IP gas pipeline: Iran wants assurance that Pakistan is ‘all in’

The $500 million funding agreement is to be signed next week, say sources.


Zafar Bhutta November 24, 2012

ISLAMABAD:


Iran once again is pushing the financing issue regarding the Iran-Pakistan (IP)gas pipeline as it assures extending a $500 million loan to Pakistan on the condition that Islamabad will not turn its back on the project.


The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during a recent visit to Islamabad, pledged $500 million financing for the $1.5 billion IP gas pipeline project, while seeking commitment from Pakistan that it will not back out and complete the project within the scheduled timeframe.

Islamabad plans to avail this financing to acquire engineering and construction materials to lay its portion of the pipeline, which will be carried out in a joint venture with Iranian companies and local gas utilities including Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

In addition to Iranian financing, Islamabad seeks to avail the buyer’s credit facility to pay for the import of building materials. The government will also raise Rs30 billion during the current financial year through the gas infrastructure development cess (GIDC) – a tax levied on domestic gas consumers.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Pakistani and Iranian teams had finalised the draft of the Inter-Governmental Cooperation Agreement (IGCA).

“We will sign the agreement next week,” sources said, adding that Iranians were concerned about the progress of the project and wanted assurance that there shall be no further delays to lay Pakistan’s portion of gas pipeline so that gas supply can begin in December this year.



“We have assured the Iranian president that the funds will be utilised for construction of the gas pipeline in Pakistan and will be completed in time,” sources said, adding that now all issues have been settled to move ahead on the project.

The agreement says that $250 million will be provided by Iran on a government to government basis, while the remaining $250 million will be wired by Iranian commercial banks. “Tehran has to settle some issues with their commercial banks which will be resolved in the coming week before signing of the finance deal,” sources said.

Pakistan wanted Iran’s signatures on the funding agreement during the visit, but delays in finalisation of the draft resulted in a bottleneck because of the late arrival of the delegation from Tehran.

Pakistan is currently pressured in securing funding from foreign countries and institutions due to sanctions imposed against Tehran over its controversial nuclear programme.

Under the project, Pakistan will import 750 million cubic feet gas per day (mmcfd) extendable to one billion cubic feet gas per day. The Balochistan government wants 250mmcfd for Gwadar Port, therefore Pakistani can obtain more gas from Iran if need be.

German-based consultant firm ILF has already completed a detailed engineering design of the project. According to the interim feasibility report, the project will cost between $1.2 and $1.5 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.

COMMENTS (14)

Khan | 11 years ago | Reply

We absolutely need regional cooperation. Iran is our brother and we must stand by them against any zionist pressure. Once a few projects like these get finished, people will start seeing that we dont need the west, we have the power, we just dont know it yet or just asleep. People wake up and support this project and demand from the leaders concrete progress in this regard.

shahid | 11 years ago | Reply

Do it .No ifs and buts.It is in best interest of country.

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