Farsnews

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Indian oil ministry urged the revival of Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project that is due to take natural gas from Iran to the two countries.

“Iran is keen and India needs energy. The (Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline) project can be revived,” the Economic Times quoted an unnamed government official as saying.

The official stated that the pipeline project, stalled in 2008, could be revived amid hopes for a relief of sanctions on Iran as part of a nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers.

The Indian government is also looking for alternatives to oil imports from Saudi Arabia and crisis-stricken Iraq.

“There has been turmoil in Syria, Iraq and other oil producing countries in the Middle East. We can't keep all eggs in one basket,” another Indian official said, adding, “Russia is one such potential supplier. We may import natural gas from the country either in liquid form or through a pipeline.”

Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be constructed.

The IP pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.

In February, Iran announced that it will send a delegation to Islamabad soon to pursue the construction of IP gas pipeline project in a bid to help the neighboring Muslim country overcome its energy crisis.

The Urdu-language Donya newspaper reported that the Iranian government has assured that Tehran will give a positive response to Islamabad’s request for extending the deadline for completion and implementation of the project of Iran-Pakistan gas transfer pipeline.