Monday, March 14, 2005
Iran-India pipeline has safeguards: Aiyar
Press Trust of India
New Delhi, March 14, 2005
India on Monday said that the 2600-km long Iran-India gas pipeline through Pakistan had enough safeguards against disruptions in supplies and proposed its extension to China via Myanmar.
"If Iran-India pipeline is to be extended via Upper Myanmar to South China, disruption in supplies to India would mean supplies to China are also stopped and that could prove enough deterrent (for Islamabad)," Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said in an interactive session with the Forum of Financial Writers here.
New Delhi would also earn huge transit fee from the pipeline if it were to be extended to China, he said adding "the pipeline from South Pars field in Iran to Rajasthan border had enough safeguards to avert disruptions."
He said India has delinked the process of transmission with the purchase of gas and New Delhi would be taking deliveries at the Indian border. It would be Tehran's responsibility to deal with Pakistan and transit gas to India.
Besides, the pipeline would be laid 0.9 to 1.5 metres below the surface and will use fibre-optic cable sensing systems with a back-up satellite link. Maintenance units will be located every 150 km with pipe sections ready to install if there is a disruption to the pipeline.
Any disruption to the pipeline can be rectified within two to three days, the duration for which the pipeline would always maintain line-capacity (gas volumes).
As additional precaution, both India and Pakistan would build gas storage facilities that could take care of a fortnight's demand. Besides, Tehran would back up supplies with LNG if piped gas is disrupted for long.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.