Via FLC
The 1,600-kilometer pipeline, projected to cost USD 1.2-1.5 billion, would enable the export of 21.5 million cubic meters of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan on a daily basis.Iran has already constructed more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil.Tehran-based Tadbir Energy Development Group will reportedly undertake all engineering procurement and construction work for the first segment of the project, which starts from the Iran-Pakistan border and costs around USD 250 million.The Iranian firm will also carry out the second segment of the project, and extend the financing later to USD 500 million.
The Express Tribune relates the history
of the US trying to prevent the pipeline being built:
The two sides hope the pipeline will be complete in time to start delivery of 21.5 million cubic metres of gas per day to Pakistan by December 2014.The US has issued warnings to invoke economic sanctions already in place against Iran if Pakistan went ahead with its plans to import natural gas from the Islamic republic.The United States has steadfastly opposed Pakistani and Indian involvement, saying the project could violate sanctions imposed on Iran over nuclear activities that Washington suspects are aimed at developing a weapons capability. Iran denies this.India quit the project in 2009, citing costs and security issues, a year after it signed a nuclear deal with Washington.
Isn’t that interesting? The pipeline could come online the
same month that NATO troops are scheduled to end their involvement in
Afghanistan. That could well be why we see this paragraph in the Fars News story
on the pipeline:
During the meeting at the international airport of the Southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar today, Ahmadinejad and Zardari said that the gas pipeline will further strengthen the economic, political and security relations between Tehran and Islamabad and other regional states.
US presence in the region clearly has been a
destabilizing force. Iran and Pakistan appear to be taking steps toward what
they hope will be improved stability once we are gone..."
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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1 comment:
Pakistan, a nation of 180 Million people are increasingly becoming determined to get out of the US influence and hold on our internal, external affairs.
Pakistan is in dire need of natural gas and the local production is far short of the huge demand. We will go ahead with the pipeline project with Iran, in spite of US threats!
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