Russia, Pakistan Sign Pipe MoU

Russia and Pakistan September 27 signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in implementing an underwater pipeline project that will transport Iranian gas to Pakistan and India. The project has been under discussion since last year.

The MoU provides for the identification of authorised organisations through which the project will be supported, including when developing a feasibility study - identifying the resource base, configuration and route of the gas pipeline, the Russian energy ministry said in a statement.

The MoU was signed by Russian deputy minister of energy Anatoly Yanovsky and deputy minister of energy of Pakistan Sher Afgan-Khan in Moscow. Yanovsky noted that Russia will have to inform Iran and India about the MoU and expects to sign a similar document with India.

Pakistan is also in talks with Iran to restart the stalled Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, which is a separate project. Pakistan is part of the proposed four-nation Turkmenistan-Afghanistan,-Pakistan-India (Tapi) pipeline project as well which will transport gas from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. 

Yanovsky further said that Russia is looking to enhance energy cooperation with Pakistan and talks are being held on the proposed North-South gas pipeline project which will connect southern port city of Karachi to the city of Lahore in the north. Russia is keen to supply LNG to Pakistan as well, he said.