ID :
151471
Sun, 11/28/2010 - 15:45
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https://www.oananews.org//node/151471
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IP project more feasible than TAP (News Analysis)
Islamabad, Nov 28, IRNA -- Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project is considered to be more feasible as compared to Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP) because the Iranian gas reserves are much larger than Turkmenistan and are near to Pakistan.
Pakistan has already finalized the IP project and construction of the pipeline is in progress, hopefully Pakistan will start receiving Iranian gas by 2014.
Natural gas reserves in Iran are about 15.8% of world's total reserves and stand for world's second largest reserves after Russia.
There is no security problem for the IP project but continued instability in Afghanistan is still a major hurdle in the implementation of Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP) or Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project.
Observers say that the TAPI gas pipeline would pass through southern Afghanistan where Taliban are very strong and they believe that fighting in this area should continue.
In such situation, it is very difficult to lay a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to the troubled area.
Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project is between the two countries and the issues that could arise in future in the project would be easily solved.
In Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP) there would be four countries and it is difficult to resolve issues in four partners than two partners.
The cost of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project is estimated at US $7.6 billion whereas the cost of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project would be US $7.5 billion.
In 2005, 'the TAPI project has been revived and drawn strong US support' as it would allow the Central Asian republics to export energy to Western markets 'without relying on Russian routes'.
Pakistan needs gas for its endurance as its economy is under inevitable strain owing to energy crises.
The IP gas pipeline would provide 21.5 million cubic meter of natural gas for Pakistan on a daily basis that is a huge amount for satisfying the domestic and industrial demand of the country.
A big part of the gas would be utilized in the generation of electricity on lower rates. The Iran gas pipeline agreement has boosted the strategic value of Pakistan in the region.
The 2,775-kilometre (1,724 mi) IP gas pipeline will be supplied from the South Pars field. It will start from Asalouyeh and stretch over 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) through Iran.
According to the deal, Iran will initially transfer 30 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan, but will eventually increase the transfer to 60 million cubic meters per day.
On the other hand Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline will have the initial capacity of 27 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year of which 2 bcm will be provided to Afghanistan and 12.5 bcm to each Pakistan and India.
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has fallen victim to geopolitics, however, it goes to the credit of the regimes in Islamabad and Tehran that they have managed to keep the project alive.
In January, the United States asked Pakistan to abandon its plan of receiving natural gas from Iran in order to isolate Iran.
Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative for Pakistan, had threatened companies in Islamabad with US sanctions if they cooperate with Tehran in the plan.
Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit has clearly stated that, “This project is very important for us, for our economic growth as Pakistan is facing a huge energy deficit… so we attach an immense importance to this project and I don't think that Pakistan will abandon this project'.
People inside Pakistan are surprised over US’ reaction at IP gas pipeline-a project of contentment and opulence for Pakistan and the people of Pakistan.
Majority in Pakistan says that US wants Pakistan to be in the quagmire of crises that its troubles can be cashed persistently in the region for the interests of America and West and this is why US is strongly resisting the Iran-Gas pipeline not only to isolate Iran diplomatically but also to devastate the future of Pakistan socio-economic and politically.
Experts believe that abandoning what has come to be known as a ‘peace pipeline’ agreement may severely affect Pakistan’s plan to meet its energy needs in the next two decades.
The government of Pakistan knowing importance of the project is committed to complete the project as early as possible./end
Pakistan has already finalized the IP project and construction of the pipeline is in progress, hopefully Pakistan will start receiving Iranian gas by 2014.
Natural gas reserves in Iran are about 15.8% of world's total reserves and stand for world's second largest reserves after Russia.
There is no security problem for the IP project but continued instability in Afghanistan is still a major hurdle in the implementation of Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP) or Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project.
Observers say that the TAPI gas pipeline would pass through southern Afghanistan where Taliban are very strong and they believe that fighting in this area should continue.
In such situation, it is very difficult to lay a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to the troubled area.
Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project is between the two countries and the issues that could arise in future in the project would be easily solved.
In Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP) there would be four countries and it is difficult to resolve issues in four partners than two partners.
The cost of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project is estimated at US $7.6 billion whereas the cost of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project would be US $7.5 billion.
In 2005, 'the TAPI project has been revived and drawn strong US support' as it would allow the Central Asian republics to export energy to Western markets 'without relying on Russian routes'.
Pakistan needs gas for its endurance as its economy is under inevitable strain owing to energy crises.
The IP gas pipeline would provide 21.5 million cubic meter of natural gas for Pakistan on a daily basis that is a huge amount for satisfying the domestic and industrial demand of the country.
A big part of the gas would be utilized in the generation of electricity on lower rates. The Iran gas pipeline agreement has boosted the strategic value of Pakistan in the region.
The 2,775-kilometre (1,724 mi) IP gas pipeline will be supplied from the South Pars field. It will start from Asalouyeh and stretch over 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) through Iran.
According to the deal, Iran will initially transfer 30 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan, but will eventually increase the transfer to 60 million cubic meters per day.
On the other hand Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline will have the initial capacity of 27 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year of which 2 bcm will be provided to Afghanistan and 12.5 bcm to each Pakistan and India.
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has fallen victim to geopolitics, however, it goes to the credit of the regimes in Islamabad and Tehran that they have managed to keep the project alive.
In January, the United States asked Pakistan to abandon its plan of receiving natural gas from Iran in order to isolate Iran.
Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative for Pakistan, had threatened companies in Islamabad with US sanctions if they cooperate with Tehran in the plan.
Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit has clearly stated that, “This project is very important for us, for our economic growth as Pakistan is facing a huge energy deficit… so we attach an immense importance to this project and I don't think that Pakistan will abandon this project'.
People inside Pakistan are surprised over US’ reaction at IP gas pipeline-a project of contentment and opulence for Pakistan and the people of Pakistan.
Majority in Pakistan says that US wants Pakistan to be in the quagmire of crises that its troubles can be cashed persistently in the region for the interests of America and West and this is why US is strongly resisting the Iran-Gas pipeline not only to isolate Iran diplomatically but also to devastate the future of Pakistan socio-economic and politically.
Experts believe that abandoning what has come to be known as a ‘peace pipeline’ agreement may severely affect Pakistan’s plan to meet its energy needs in the next two decades.
The government of Pakistan knowing importance of the project is committed to complete the project as early as possible./end
