07-23-2005, 05:39 AM
<b>Is MSA Upstaging the Prime Minister?</b>
<b>India negotiating with Pakistan to make pipeline safe: Aiyar</b>
<b>NEW DELHI: Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said on Friday that New Delhi was negotiating with Islamabad to make the US7.4-billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline safe from all risks.
âThe whole of this exercise for a safe and secure world class project is taking required measures to mitigate the risks involved,â Aiyar told reporters. He said the pipelineâs technical, financial, commercial and legal agreements would have safety and security dimension worked into the project structure. âNegotiations are on schedule that we had laid. We are working towards that,â he added.</b>
Meanwhile, Indian Petroleum Ministry sources said that India was moving ahead with plans to appoint global financial consultants for the proposed Iran gas pipeline project. Reports from Pakistan indicated a similar keenness to start the tri-nation project soon.
Sources said, âAs agreed by the India-Pakistan Joint Working Group, we are moving ahead with plans to appoint global financial consultants just as Pakistan will be doing. Iran has already appointed financial consultants BHP Billiton.â India has hired global financial consultants with the objective of ensuring a âsafe and secure pipeline,â said sources. They said the three countries did not have previous experience of a transnational pipeline project and India thought it was necessary to hire financial consultants to minimise risks. Agencies
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>India negotiating with Pakistan to make pipeline safe: Aiyar</b>
<b>NEW DELHI: Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said on Friday that New Delhi was negotiating with Islamabad to make the US7.4-billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline safe from all risks.
âThe whole of this exercise for a safe and secure world class project is taking required measures to mitigate the risks involved,â Aiyar told reporters. He said the pipelineâs technical, financial, commercial and legal agreements would have safety and security dimension worked into the project structure. âNegotiations are on schedule that we had laid. We are working towards that,â he added.</b>
Meanwhile, Indian Petroleum Ministry sources said that India was moving ahead with plans to appoint global financial consultants for the proposed Iran gas pipeline project. Reports from Pakistan indicated a similar keenness to start the tri-nation project soon.
Sources said, âAs agreed by the India-Pakistan Joint Working Group, we are moving ahead with plans to appoint global financial consultants just as Pakistan will be doing. Iran has already appointed financial consultants BHP Billiton.â India has hired global financial consultants with the objective of ensuring a âsafe and secure pipeline,â said sources. They said the three countries did not have previous experience of a transnational pipeline project and India thought it was necessary to hire financial consultants to minimise risks. Agencies
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->