To meet its ever growing energy requirement , for decades India was desperate to have a direct oil pipeline from Iran to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan. However the strife in Afghanistan and the attitude of Pakistan always came in the way of this Project.
Finally now a new route has been decided . Under the path breaking initiative taken by the present Govt of India two Companies DNV- GL, Norway and Engineers India Ltd (EIL) have already confirmed the Project Feasibility for a under sea Natural gas pipeline from Iran to India , Iran to Oman and Oman to India .
This the alternative and safer route than one via Pakistan . This route will later be also utilized to bring/ swap gas from Russia ,Turkmenistan and other regions to India.
The pipe line will reach Gujarat Coast of India at one of the ports. With this pipeline in conjunction with operationalization of Chabahar Port in Iran , Pakistan will be totally marginalized in the economic affairs of the region not withstanding the up coming port of Gwadar. Even China will feel the impact on its much vaunted CPEC.
Gas pipe lines are more competitive than LNG containers for distance upto 3000km, due to high cost involved in the process of liquefaction , filling of the container ship, transportation and subsequent re gasification. The cost of this entire process comes to roughly Rs 4000/- per mmbtu of LNG .
Thus by laying these pipe lines India will be saving up to Rs 70000 crores annually on cost of transportation itself over the imported gas as LNG.
The project envisages a total import of 32 mmscmd natural gas over a period of 25 years Long term gas supply contract with Iran. This will ensure fueling of India’s MAKE IN INDIA plans and gas based economy vision .
This path breaking infrastructure project will propel higher economic growth for India .
The entire project is being handled by SAGE ….South Asia Gas Enterprise.
By – Colonel Awadhesh Kumar , Veteran Special Forces
