Date:28/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/28/stories/2008042853491200.htm

National

Iran: IPI gas pipeline deal within grasp

Atul Aneja

Ministerial talks with Pakistan positive

Flurry of activity coinciding with Ahmadinejad’s visit
Renewed interest in commercial ventures

DUBAI: Iran has said that an agreement on the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline is within grasp following the recent Ministerial level talks between India and Pakistan on this subject.

Speaking ahead of the visit to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Hosseini said that “reaching an agreement on the project will be possible” in the light of the India-Pakistan talks. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora has just concluded talks with Pakistani officials on the IPI gas pipeline and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India project.

There has been a flurry of activity coinciding with Mr. Ahmadinejad’s visit. India and Iran have concluded talks to construct a rail link between Chabahar and the Iranian port of Fahraj. The agenda of talks also included the development of the strategic Chabahar port on the Oman Sea. Besides, the two countries are looking at further developing the North-South corridor that connects India and Iran to Russia. A proposal to build an academy to train Iranian railway personnel has also been mooted.

India is hosting a high profile cultural festival with Iran. The week-long festival will be launched in New Delhi on April 30 and will conclude later in Mumbai.

Conference

Indian and Iranian scientists began a three-day conference on nanotechnology in Tehran on Sunday. According to student news agency ISNA, 100 papers would be discussed during this seminar.

Mr. Ahmadinejad’s visit has reignited interest in major commercial ventures. The public sector National Aluminium Company (NALCO) plans to invest $1 billion in smelters and a captive power plant in Iran. The Hinduja-ONGC Videsh ventures in Iran’s giant Azadegan oil field and South Pars gas field are also acquiring fresh traction, analysts say.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Mr. Ahmadinejad will travel to Pakistan on Monday. He will then visit Sri Lanka on the second leg of his journey. Mr. Ahmadinejad is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday for a day-long visit, before departing home.