Talks on IPI gas pipeline project by month end: Srinivasan

COIMBATORE: India and Pakistan are likely to resolve the contentious issue of transit fee for the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline during the ministerial level talks by this month end or early next month, Petroleum Secretary MS Srinivasan said on Saturday.

"All the major issues have been resolved. Only fixing of transit fee remains to be solved," Srinivasan said.

He was replying to a question on the delay in implementing the $7.4 billion project for which several technical aspects, including diameter of the pipe and pressure of the gas, have been finalised.

Observing that many international projects took years for completion, Srinivasan said the project with India's stake of $2.5 billion, was expected to be completed within three years.

Asked whether there was any pressure from the US to stall the project, he said, "There is no formal opposition from that nation."

To another question on surplus situation of gas due to this project in view of increasing domestic exploration and production, he said, "We will be able to absorb Iran gas comfortably."