India firm on IPI gas pipeline project: Deora

New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora has conveyed New Delhi's committment to the India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) gas pipeline project to Tehran during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Conference at Shanghai, China.

According to an official release issued here today, Mr Deora called on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad and reiterated India's committment to the IPI gas pipeline project.

Mr Deora said the discussions by the three participating countries on the project structure, route, gas pricing, framework agreement, etc are progressing on fast-track.

He, however, emphasisied upon need to expidite the implementation of LNG supply agreement between the oil companies of India and Iran.

The Iranian President assured Mr Deora on expediting the issues concerned, statement added.

Mr Deora also met Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh.

A secretary-level meeting of the three countries was recently held in Islamabad on IPI Pipeline Project after the Oil Ministers of India, Pakistan and Iran informally discussed the project on the sidelines of the IEF Ministerial Conference at Doha in the last week of April 2006.

The Oil Ministers will again hold talks after the details for the meeting are worked out at secretary-level discussions.

Mr Deora was accompanied by Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan and the Ambassador of India to China Nalin Surie.

UNI BKS VJ PM1900