January 9th (Tehran Times) - Tehran Times quoted a senior official with the National Iranian Oil Company as saying that Iran, Pakistan and Russia are scheduled to meet in January to discuss Russian Gazprom's cooperation in the IPI pipeline project.
As per report, Mr Hojjatollah Ghanimifard director for investment affairs of NIOC, Mr Abubakir Shamuzov Gazprom's representative to Tehran and Mr Ershad Ahmad Kalim deputy minister of oil and natural resources of Pakistan met in Tehran to elaborate on the method of Gazprom's participation in the project.
Mr Shamuzov said in the meeting that the IPI pipeline project would greatly contribute to the economic development of the region. As a major gas producer and supplier, Gazprom pays special attention to the development projects which are being implemented in the southern Asia.
The report said that Gazprom's entry into the project had been discussed during a meeting between Mr Sergei Shmatko energy minister of Russia and Mr Masoud Mirkazemi oil minister Iran last week in Tehran.
According to plans the Russian firm will provide a complete set of information about the project. The next meeting is scheduled for the H2 of January in Iran. Ghanimifard expressed hopes that India would also take part in the meeting.
The IPI pipeline route is designed to transport Iranian gas to Pakistan and India, though the signature of a final deal agreement has been delayed several times over price and political issues. Iran, Pakistan and India conceptualized the Peace Pipeline project in 1990s, to help boost peace and security in the region. Negotiations over the project were initiated in 1994 between the 3 countries but there were obstacles to closing the 3 way deal due to tension between India and Pakistan.
Due to the tense India and Pakistan relations, New Delhi stepped back from the later stages of negotiations, although it has never formally withdrawn from the project.