India, Oman, Iran in subsea pipeline talks

Iran, India and Oman are preparing to begin official negotiations for delivery of the Iranian natural gas to the Indian market through a deepwater pipeline.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, and Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah have met in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Friday afternoon and discussed the issue.

This is the first time the negotiations on the project were held at the ministerial level.

In December 2013, Iran generally agreed to establish the deepwater pipeline, which is planned to cross the Sea of Oman.

India’s South Asia Gas Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (SAGE) has conducted feasibility studies for the planned 1,400-kilometer pipeline, which is estimated to cost USD 4-5 billion and would carry 31 million cubic meters (mcm) per day of gas to India.

The envisioned pipeline will carry gas from Iran’s gigantic South Pars gas field.

India is among Asia’s major importers of energy and resorted on Iran to meet a portion of its energy demands.