The Hindu Business Line : India to be observer at TAP gas pipeline meet

India, which has been looking at various options for sourcing gas to meet its requirements, is participating to weigh the technical, commercial, financial and legal options of the project, a senior Petroleum Ministry official said.

The official, however, reiterated that TAP should not been seen as an alternative to the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project. The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Dinsha Patel, is leading the delegation, which has representatives of the Ministry, IndianOil Corporation and GAIL (India) Ltd. Based on the report of the delegation the Government would firm up its view on the future prospects, the official told presspersons here on Monday. The three-day meeting commenced on Monday.

The $ 4-billion project is expected to be 1,680-km long. The feasibility report has been prepared by ADB, which is the lead development partner. TAP is expected to transport 100 mmscmd (million standard cubic metre per day) of gas, of which India's share at best is likely to be 60 mmscmd. India's requirement by 2020 would be close to 200 mmscmd.

Further, the Turkemenistan Government has brushed aside any doubt raised on its gas reserves and its commitment. Doubts were raised on commitment of gas to TAP, to which the Turkemenistan Government has responded by saying that commitment to Russia did not pertain to new finds.

There was some concern raised on issues including the pipeline's security and routing. There are two routes - the northern route where the passage through Afghanistan is short and pipeline enters Indian boarders in Punjab, and the southern route, which passes through heavily mined territories held by Taliban in Afghanistan, Baluchistan in Pakistan and ending in Punjab, India. The northern route appears to be more attractive, the official said.