Pakistan News And Discussion-9

[Naresh]

<b>k.ram Ji :</b>

Flattery will get you everything, but I for one prefer Cash – the more the better!

Not being an Expert I can only present you with my “Do Paise”.

I have read similar articles in various Newspapers and have refrained from posting the Articles for the simple reason that there are too many imponderables as well as hurdles to cross before achieving any concrete results.

They are :

1. The agreement of the Formula and Finally of the whole deal is subject to the Approval of the Supreme Council of the Iranian Parliament. The last time India and Iran signed a deal “Subject to the approval of the Supreme Council of the Iranian Parliament”, for Five Million Tonnes of LNG Annually (I forget the total period) at USD 3.25 or so per MMBTU, the Supreme Council of the Iranian Parliament did not approve of the deal and so it went down the tube. The reason given was that the price of Oil had gone up.

So one has to wait for the approval and questions <b>If over a Twenty Five – or whatever – period of the contract the Oil Prices collapse then will the Iranians reduce the price or if the Oil Prices shoot up again will the Iranians honour the Deal or once again walk away from it in terms of Price?</b>

2. If the Iranian Nuclear situation stays as it is the USA will “Issue Sanctions” against every Company which undertakes a project of over USD 40 Million. This Project will eventually cost around USD 10 Billion. How are the Companies involved going to overcome such Sanctions.

3. One reads – on a Daily Basis – the Incidents of “Sort Circuits in Air Vacuum” in respect of Gas and Oil Pipe Lines. In addition Railway Lines, Electricity Transmission Lines, Water Pipes etc. etc. have all suffered from similar incidents of “Short Circuit in Air Vacuum”

4. With the Pakistani mindset what are the Guarantees that Pakistan will not stop the Gas Flow and demand “Give us Kashmir or No Gas will Flow”? I hope you can imagine the effect on Industrial, Commercial and Domestic Users One sees Riots and Indians running around like headless chickens.

5. Even if Pakistan does not make territorial demands what are the Guarantees that they will not ask for Increase in Transit dues at frequent intervals?

Finally, and it is my firm belief, India must never let Pakistan control India’s Energy Jugular as Pakistan will – at the flimsiest of excuses – disrupt or stop the Flow of Natural Gas through the Pipe Line situated in its Territory.

I would take this opportunity to affirm that the above are not the only acts-points for India not using a Natural Gas Pipe Line traversing Pakistan and would request our esteemed members of this Forum to put further their comments.

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->