Russia & India Report/Vzglyad: Russia-India oil, gas pipelines in the works?

India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plans to invite Russia to build an oil pipeline through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. In addition, the country’s largest gas company, GAIL, has proposed that Russia's future gas pipeline to China be extended to India. Political risks threaten both projects, but experts believe they would be economically feasible.

Delhi is preparing to make Moscow an offer: to construct an oil pipeline to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan. “We are ready to discuss the details with the Russians. The project is economically beneficial to both India and the Russian Federation. Moreover, it will benefit Afghanistan and Pakistan, and when economic prosperity is on the table, differences tend to be forgotten," Vice President of ONGC M.K. Nair was quoted by ITAR-TASS as saying.

ONGC's proposal to run a pipeline from Russia is “one of several prospective projects that can significantly increase the volume of bilateral trade,” said the head of the Eurasian Department of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Ajay Bisaria, speaking at a seminar on ‘Strategic Contours of Russian-Indian Trade and Economic Cooperation.’ The seminar was attended by a delegation of India's largest natural gas company, GAIL, which proposed in turn that Russia extend its mooted gas pipeline through China to Indian soil. “The idea is being discussed,” said the director of the GAIL Department for Quality Management, Siddhartha Sarkar. MORE