New Delhi has shot down Tehran’s proposal of two separate gas pipelines, one to India and another to Pakistan, saying it did not address the country’s security concern. At the second meeting of the India-Iran Special Joint Working Group (JWG) on October 24, the Indian team said it would ‘‘prefer a single Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline to carry the requirements of all off-takers’’. And in case a second pipeline was required, it could be considered only after the first one became functional, said the Indian team headed by Petroleum Secretary S.C.Tripati. The routing of the second pipeline should also be the same as the first to address the pipeline’s security, it added. New Delhi’s concern is that a dedicated pipeline for India crossing onland Pakistan would pose security hazard in terms of operation given the relationship between the two neighbours. Incidentally, Pakistan also holds the same view and had informed India of its stand during the bilateral JWG meet in September, said sources. Iran’s suggestion for two separate pipelines is a result of the cumulative gas demand of all three nations exceeding the proposed pipeline’s carrying capcity. The single 46 pipeline that is being considered can, at most, carry 140 million standard cubic metres per day (MSCMD) of gas. Compared to this, Pakistan plans to buy 60 MSCMD and India 90 MSCMD by 2014. The numbers get complicated further with Iran contemplating to supply up to 15 MSCMD of gas within Iran, especially its eastern borders, over a period of 10 years from this pipeline. However, Iran’s Deputy Petroleum Minister for International Affairs M.H. Nejad Hosseinian has agreed that his country would lay a separate pipeline for its consumers if the combined demand of India and Pakistan dictated the entire capacity of the proposed pipeline. Panel to formulate fuel pricing policy NEW DELHI: The Centre has set up a high-level committee under C. Rangarajan, Chairman, economic advisory council, to formulate a fuel pricing policy and taxation regime for petroleum products. Unlike the previous committees, the new panel would also look into the taxation, central and local levies, on raw material (crude oil) and products. PTI
