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Iran gas pipeline deal is not off, says Murli Deora
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora has denied reports that India has quit plans to build a gas pipeline with Iran and Pakistan.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora has denied reports that India has quit plans to build a gas pipeline with Iran and Pakistan.
"No, it's not off," Deora told journalists in London on Thursday.
"With Iran the question is still open, but because of the political situation in Pakistan, just now there is a little bit of a stop on that."
Deora said he had met the relevant Pakistani ministers but "they have not written to us? they met us."
On plans to procure natural gas from Bangladesh, he said, "Unfortunately we have not progressed on that."
Murli Deora's statement comes after the Pakistani Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Bux Abbasi, was quoted in the Tehran Times as saying Sunday that "India is out" of the troubled pipeline deal.
The 2,775-km pipeline is expected to deliver 30 million cubic metres of natural gas per day to Pakistan - a quantity that is later expected to double.
Deora was in London leading a roadshow to seek bids for oil and gas exploration in India. He said he had received a "gratifying and very good response" from British and other companies.
