Pakistan and Russia have finalised a memorandum of understanding for conducting a feasibility study for a planned undersea gas pipeline project, which could eventually involve Iran and India as well.
Pakistan foreign office spokesman Muhammad Faisal told a weekly news briefing on Thursday: “The ministries of energy of Pakistan and the Russian federation have finalised a MoU for conducting a feasibility study for implementation of an undersea gas pipeline project.”
According to the details available so far, the project will eventually involve four countries — Pakistan, Russia, Iran and India. It has been under discussion since last year.
“The purpose of the MoU is to assist in providing support for the realisation of the project. Based on the results of the feasibility study, the two sides will take a decision for its future,” Faisal said.
He said Russia has been keen on promoting energy cooperation with Pakistan. “The two countries have concluded various proposals in the energy sector, including construction of the North-South Gas Pipeline, import of LNG from Russia, installation of an air mix plant and establishing a 600-MW combined cycle power plant,” he said.
Responding to a question, he denied the new project will replace the stalled Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. “The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is a separate project,” he said.
Expressing concern at the testing of India’s Agni-V nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, the spokesman said India’s arms build-up had pushed the region into a “vicious arms race”.
Prasanta Patnaik