...
...
Next Story

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.

Updated on: Sep 11, 2009 05:49 PM IST
Advertisement

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora has denied reports that India has quit plans to build a gas pipeline with Iran and Pakistan.

HT Image
HT Image

"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.

 
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe