New Delhi, August 22
Notwithstanding American pressure, New Delhi is showing renewed interest in the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline. Official sources denied that India was reluctant to pursue the ambitious IPI project and was now keen on an early fruition of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.

“We are an energy-deficient country…to sustain our high growth rate and ensure energy security, we need energy from every possible source,’’ they added.

The clarification came following reports that Iran is peeved with India for virtually abandoning the IPI pipeline and joining the US-backed TAPI project.

Tehran has gone on record saying that it was no longer holding talks with India on the IPI pipeline but has signed a bilateral accord with Pakistan on the project. It has also from time to time given firm indications that China was too keen to replace India in the project. Pakistan also wants China, its ‘all weather friend’, to join the project.

The Indian sources sought to dispel the impression that Washington had been exerting pressure on India not to pursue the IPI pipeline in view of Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

The US has never told the Indian government that it did not want the IPI natural gas pipeline to be built. "They have said it isn't a good thing in public but never to us directly - possibly because they know the reply they will get." the sources added.

They said various important issues, like pricing of gas, delivery point of gas, project structure, payment of transportation tariff and transit fee for passage of natural gas through Pakistan and security of supply had still not been sorted out as far as the IPI project was concerned. “Once our concerns are addressed satisfactorily, we will have no hesitation in going ahead with the project.’’

Asked how the TAPI pipeline would be more viable for India than the IPI project, which was being negotiated since the nineties, the officials New Delhi had no problem with either of the projects.

TAPI project is said to be moving forward fast following the signing of an enabling agreement last year. It has overcome some earlier concerns, including technical feasibility of crossing some of the world's highest mountains and concerns about the size of Turkmenistan's gas reserves.

If completed, the Turkmenistan pipeline would also allow India to tap into the gas fields of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well.