India, Pak to Discuss LNG Pipeline

Pakistan and India plan to discuss the issue of pipeline for export of LNG from India in a meeting to be held in September.

The Express Tribune says that the two countries are also expected to touch upon issues of LNG pricing and transport facility. Citing sources the newspaper said India was planning to expand its pipeline network for shipment of LNG across the border.

The sources pointed out that India had already laid a pipeline network covering 100kms for transporting LNG to Bhatinda, from where the pipeline could be extended to Pakistan’s Wagah border to inject gas into the network of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

An energy expert said Pakistan would have to use the option of pipeline if it wanted to import LNG from India. However, he suggested that Pakistan should first try to find out whether India was in a position to export gas in the face of shortages there.