Iran gas: RIL, Gail will study onshore option

Sources said that it was proposed at the meeting that subject to approval from the respective governments, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) be signed between a consortium of four companies from Iran, Pakistan and India for carrying out a detailed techno-economic feasibility study on the onland option of the gas pipeline. NIGEC, Gail, RIL and Interstate and Sui Gas of Pakistan will be the four consortia partners.

When contacted, Banerjee said that Gail had already been nominated as the nodal agency by the government to study the onshore and offshore options for the pipeline. ‘‘Our meeting in Mumbai took place on the sidelines of the Asia Gas Buyers Summit, where we met as a group of professional managers to look at the commercial aspect of the onland option. While the issue of security was dealt with at the political level, the consortia would look at the commercial side,’’ he added.

Banerjee said that BHP of Australia had conducted a ‘desktop’ study on the onland option from Iran till Pakistan. However, after the recent government-to-government discussions between India and Pakistan, it was agreed that this desktop study be updated by BHP till India. BHP Australia has been appointed by NIGEC and the final report will be available by February end.

Sources said that this desktop study was a preliminary study without commercial details or route survey.