India has not taken part in the talks on the IPI gas pipeline since 2007, citing security and commercial concerns
Touted once a 'Peace Pipeline' and a harbinger of regional connectivity, the famed tri-nation India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) has been given a quite burial. Soon after the international community decided to lift sanctions on Iran, it was hoped the pipeline project, proposed to cover 1,620-mile (2,700 km) from Iran's South Pars fields in the Persian Gulf to Pakistan's major cities of Karachi and Multan and then further to Delhi will be be revived. But Iran's ambassador to India Gholamreza Ansari here frankly admitted that there was no possibility of its revival, keeping in view opposition from vested interests.
"I think we should forget about pipeline because the people who have invested in the LNG in India… I don't think that they will let any pipes to come in a substantial quantity. They have invested in LNG so much … Americans are looking for the Indian market for the future," he said. He described the pipeline as unrealistic in current circumstances, fearing that United States would prevent its operationalisation.
"You can forget about the pipeline. The Americans will simply not allow this project to take off," he further added.
According to data available with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), as much as US$ 6.62 billion stand invested in LNG sector in India between 2000 and 2015. Ansari said, any talk of pipeline will put an end to these investments. "So I don't think pipelines can be a serious project," he said. Iran was also negotiating to build a $4.5 billion undersea gas pipeline to Indian west coast to avoid Pakistan.
India had not taken part in the talks on the IPI gas pipeline since 2007, citing security and commercial concerns. But experts believe it was more because of New Delhi's engagements with the US on the issue of nuclear deal.
But on the other-hand, the US is pushing India and Pakistan to implement the Tapi gas pipeline project, which would connect Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, while discouraging them from implementing the IP gas pipeline project.
Iranian envoy also strongly argued for Indian investments in Chabahar port, which would also facilitate petrochemical products to India as well as give it a window to Central Asia, Afghanistan and even to North Europe. But, he disagreed that with Chabahar, Tehran and New Delhi were undermining or creating competition to Gwadar port in Pakistan, coming up with Chinese support. He proposed that since they are just 72 km apart, they could be linked in the future. There is already speculations in the corridors of power that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was soon visiting Tehran and even going to Chabahar to inaugurate certain facility. But, the envoy refused to give any date for the visit.
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