Russia, India eyeing to tap Pakistan gas market

[Muhammad10]

ISLAMABAD: As Russia fears losing markets in the European Union (EU) because of the ongoing tussle with the United States (US) and European Union over the Ukraine issue, it is looking to capture Pakistan’s market for exporting gas by laying offshore gas pipeline.

Russian is a big exporter of gas to Europe and Turkey and exports were at all-time high levels in 2017 following record-breaking volumes last year. Gazprom said gas flows to what it calls the Far Abroad – Europe and Turkey but not the ex-Soviet states – hit a new daily record of 621.8 million cum. Exports hit a total of 179.3 Bcm in 2016, a significant jump on its previous highest level of 161.5 Bcm from 2013 and well above the 2015 total of 158.6 Bcm.

Russian gas giant Gazprom has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Engineers India on conducting joint studies for a gas pipeline between Russia and India.

According to a Gazprom statement, the memorandum reflected the interest of parties in jointly identifying routes for the gas pipeline from Russia and elsewhere to India in addition to opportunities for cooperation in other areas.

Now, it is learnt, Russia conveyed to Pakistan that it wanted to build an offshore gas pipeline passing through Gwadar port to India to export gas and offered Pakistan to join this project, official added.

Officials said that a high level delegation from the Russian Federation, led by State Secretary and Minister of Energy Yuri P Sentyurin and Deputy Chairman of Gazprom A Vitaly Markelov called on Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources in early April.

Officials said that during the discussion, Russian side said they wanted to lay an offshore gas pipeline to India passing through Pakistan. They said that they could also supply gas to Pakistan in Gwadar through a pipeline if Pakistan showed interest. Officials said that Pakistan had also expressed a desire to join this project.

Pakistan and Russia had already signed a government-to-government deal for awarding the contract for liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline between Karachi and Lahore to a Russian firm for transporting imported gas.

He said that the two countries would enter into another deal of pipeline project for gas trade. Both sides are soon expected to sign a commercial contract for materialising the project.

Earlier, Russia had assisted Pakistan’s largest hydrocarbon explorer, Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), in the search for energy resources.

In addition, Pakistan also planned to import LNG from Russia by virtue of a government-to-government arrangement.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has already given the go-ahead for starting negotiations for the gas import deal with Russia.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1394496/russia-india-eyeing-tap-pakistan-gas-market/

 

[Syed1]

India would never be a part of any project that is economically beneficial to Pakistan.

 

[big_gamer007]

India would never be a part of any project that is economically beneficial to Pakistan.

I don't understand why India - Pakistan - china and Russia work together and help each other grow economically.. The gas pipeline in OP is beneficial for everyone why can't everyone work together?

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Why can't Pakistan just buy Iranian gas on reasonable terms!

 

[Zak_Fan]

India would never be a part of any project that is economically beneficial to Pakistan.

India will always be a part of any project that helps India. CPEC didn't, this proposal does.

 

[PakLFC]

Pak should equally not get involved in anything that benefits India. We should try to block anything that benefits them just like they do us. No more need for Pak to play the good guys anymore.

 

[JaDed]

India will always be a part of any project that helps India. CPEC didn't, this proposal does.

There are other factors as well,for example USA interfering in our decisions we had to forego of pipelines(IIRC) from IRAN due to same reason eventhough we were still buying gas.

There is no continuous trade relations with India-Pakistan a fact that will keep creating issues.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Pak should equally not get involved in anything that benefits India. We should try to block anything that benefits them just like they do us. No more need for Pak to play the good guys anymore.

Is this what most Pakistanis believe? You play the good guy?

 

[Zak_Fan]

There are other factors as well,for example USA interfering in our decisions we had to forego of pipelines(IIRC) from IRAN due to same reason eventhough we were still buying gas.

There is no continuous trade relations with India-Pakistan a fact that will keep creating issues.

I won't pretend to know much about it, but didn't uncertainty over India-Pak relations play a part in that?

 

[Belawal2014]

Is this what most Pakistanis believe? You play the good guy?

Don't know, but most Indians believe that they play the good guys.

 

[Yossarian]

Erm... How is the gas going to get to Pakistan in the first place? If by land then there's a few other countries it will need to traverse through first.

If by sea to Gwadar and then by offshore pipeline to India, why go to Gwadar first, why not directly by sea to India? Also what sea route to get from Russia to Gwadar?

Similarly, if by land pipeline all the way down to Gwadar (see first point above) and then offshore pipeline to India, why? Why all the way down to Gwadar and not just cut across Pakistan and continue via land pipeline to India?

Did the journalist look at a map before writing the article?

 

[Moiza]

Why can't Pakistan just buy Iranian gas on reasonable terms!

I have a friend whose mother works in ogra and according to her everything was in place, even the majority of the pipeline but as soon as N came the project was abandoned due to their love for the Saudis.

 

[PakLFC]

Is this what most Pakistanis believe? You play the good guy?

Can't speak on behalf of 200 million Pakistanis. I don't think but know we are the heroes where as you the villains You know what happens to the villain at the end of every movie.

 

[Syed1]

Is this what most Pakistanis believe? You play the good guy?

Everybody thinks they are the good guys. Even the Nazis thought what they were doing was for the best.


Same with India. Killing, raping and torturing Kashmiris but still think they are the good guys.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Everybody thinks they are the good guys. Even the Nazis thought what they were doing was for the best.


Same with India. Killing, raping and torturing Kashmiris but still think they are the good guys.

True, and this is why a neutral perspective acquires immense significance.

 

[sshakir411]

There are other factors as well,for example USA interfering in our decisions we had to forego of pipelines(IIRC) from IRAN due to same reason eventhough we were still buying gas.

There is no continuous trade relations with India-Pakistan a fact that will keep creating issues.

this is correct. US blocked the Iran Pakistan India pipeline...which could have been a good deal

 

[Specialisttailender]

True, and this is why a neutral perspective acquires immense significance.

Neutrals look down upon India and Pakistan. The Western world thinks Pakistan is full of terrorists & radicals and India is full of backward, creepy child molesters who likes watching bad bollywood movies.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

I have a friend whose mother works in ogra and according to her everything was in place, even the majority of the pipeline but as soon as N came the project was abandoned due to their love for the Saudis.

It's not that, the American pressurised them to back away. I heard that the Iranians were pricing it high, hence I said at a reasonable cost.

 

[PakLFC]

It is like this! Where as indeed there are always two sides to a story we need to be impartial when discussing who is the aggressor and who the defender. Pakistan is always the deciding factor when it comes to elections in India in the sense that who ever spews more hate against Pak will form the next government. In Pak at election time India is never a factor at all. Just look at what India is doing in IoK, Pak may have certain problems in Baluchistan but the fauj does not openly kill or do worse to people in that province.

It was Bharat not Pak who started the nuclear arms race in the subcontinent making it the most dangerous place on earth. Pak doing so was a reaction to Indian aggression and intentions at the time, now the whole thing has gone out of control. Had Bharat not initiated a nukes race the subcontinent would be a much safer place.

 

[Zak_Fan]

It is like this! Where as indeed there are always two sides to a story we need to be impartial when discussing who is the aggressor and who the defender. Pakistan is always the deciding factor when it comes to elections in India in the sense that who ever spews more hate against Pak will form the next government. In Pak at election time India is never a factor at all. Just look at what India is doing in IoK, Pak may have certain problems in Baluchistan but the fauj does not openly kill or do worse to people in that province.

It was Bharat not Pak who started the nuclear arms race in the subcontinent making it the most dangerous place on earth. Pak doing so was a reaction to Indian aggression and intentions at the time, now the whole thing has gone out of control. Had Bharat not initiated a nukes race the subcontinent would be a much safer place.

Won't even discuss Balochistan or Kashmir, as it has been done more than enough. Murdering people discretely doesn't make things any better.. does it?

As for nuclear weapons, as a Pakistani, you should be glad they happened. This is the only thing that has kept a far stronger Indian army from taking extreme measures against Pakistan. Besides, irrespective of what India did, Pakistan was always destined to go nuclear as it was the only way you could achieve some form of military parity if it came to a war.

 

[PakLFC]

Won't even discuss Balochistan or Kashmir, as it has been done more than enough. Murdering people discretely doesn't make things any better.. does it?

As for nuclear weapons, as a Pakistani, you should be glad they happened. This is the only thing that has kept a far stronger Indian army from taking extreme measures against Pakistan. Besides, irrespective of what India did, Pakistan was always destined to go nuclear as it was the only way you could achieve some form of military parity if it came to a war.

blah...bah...blah! History is all about if's and but's so save your boring comments for yourself. Had this not happened or had that not happened would be an endless list, right? Had there been no MA Jinnah your Bharat would not have been ripped to shreds. No it is fear of the Pak army and China as well that has kept your army in it's barracks licking their wounds. Even if war were to break out today neither country would use nukes. The point I am making is that it is because of India that the nuke race started in the country where both wasted millions that could have been spent in better causes. Bravery is not having a ten times bigger country and twice a bigger military that you have. Bravery is being nine times smaller in size with a much smaller army yet never giving you an inch! We had the guts to do Kargil on you, that requires courage. You are equal in size to China who will own you in any war which is why your starving soldiers compare themselves to nine times smaller Pakistan!

 

[PakLFC]

Of course being the bigger country by far means having a bigger military size and budget as well. This is only natural but what is not natural is that you are comparing yourselves to Pakistan. This indeed is a mighty compliment to Pakistan that you know Pakistan and it's people don't fear Bharat even an inch.

 

[Syed1]

Of course being the bigger country by far means having a bigger military size and budget as well. This is only natural but what is not natural is that you are comparing yourselves to Pakistan. This indeed is a mighty compliment to Pakistan that you know Pakistan and it's people don't fear Bharat even an inch.

Sahi baat hai, apnay size wala China se compare karaingaye tou bayizzati hojaygi.. isleye "failed state" Pakistan se compare karna parta hai.

 

[Zak_Fan]

blah...bah...blah! History is all about if's and but's so save your boring comments for yourself. Had this not happened or had that not happened would be an endless list, right? Had there been no MA Jinnah your Bharat would not have been ripped to shreds. No it is fear of the Pak army and China as well that has kept your army in it's barracks licking their wounds. Even if war were to break out today neither country would use nukes. The point I am making is that it is because of India that the nuke race started in the country where both wasted millions that could have been spent in better causes. Bravery is not having a ten times bigger country and twice a bigger military that you have. Bravery is being nine times smaller in size with a much smaller army yet never giving you an inch! We had the guts to do Kargil on you, that requires courage. You are equal in size to China who will own you in any war which is why your starving soldiers compare themselves to nine times smaller Pakistan!

Better causes like supporting Afgan Taliban or funding Jaish-e-Muhammad? Don't lecture India about how to better use money when all you have done for decades is use that money against your neighbors. That misuse also explains Pakistan's current economic standing.

Yes, you never gave us an inch, because we never wanted an inch. Last time India had such intentions, you know happened with East Pakistan. Also, that Kargil war Pakistan started wasn't courage, but delusions where your army misjudged it's abilities. There is a reason why you haven't attempted anything like that since, and instead opted for the likes of Ajmal Kasab.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Sahi baat hai, apnay size wala China se compare karaingaye tou bayizzati hojaygi.. isleye "failed state" Pakistan se compare karna parta hai.

Probably because unlike certain nationalities, Indians are well aware of where they stand in certain comparisons. Hope the likes of PakLFC take that lesson too.

 

[SandyB]

Anything that improves trade is only going to do good ..

 

[PakLFC]

Better causes like supporting Afgan Taliban or funding Jaish-e-Muhammad? Don't lecture India about how to better use money when all you have done for decades is use that money against your neighbors. That misuse also explains Pakistan's current economic standing.

Yes, you never gave us an inch, because we never wanted an inch. Last time India had such intentions, you know happened with East Pakistan. Also, that Kargil war Pakistan started wasn't courage, but delusions where your army misjudged it's abilities. There is a reason why you haven't attempted anything like that since, and instead opted for the likes of Ajmal Kasab.

No better causes like getting of your terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan who have been funding trouble for years. If that means paying you back with the same coin then hey everything is fair in love and war, right?? Again, I reiterate that you started the arms race and now cry like kids seeing us move ahead with more nukes that can target your entire country big daddy!

I also know what happened in 1947 and Kargil as well when you went running to Israel to bail you out, remember?? Of course it was courage where you ran out of coffins such was the loss we gave you. Your malnourished, skinny and starving soldiers can only bully innocent kid's with stones in their hands like your Zionist masters, Israel. It wants none of Pak, we saw that after 26/11, Uri and Pathankot where your embarrassing threats lead to nothing.You will not dare even think of a conventional war with us instead watch how we hang your Kulbushan like we did your other terrorist Sarbjit Singh!

 

[PakLFC]

It is so flattering that India compares itself and its military to a much smaller country like Pakistan. In reality it only exposes their complex and insecurity. I can not even imagine Pakistan comparing its military to Singapore or Maldives islands.

 

[Zak_Fan]

It is so flattering that India compares itself and its military to a much smaller country like Pakistan. In reality it only exposes their complex and insecurity. I can not even imagine Pakistan comparing its military to Singapore or Maldives islands.

Lol.. you brought up the nukes, and now cry when the inevitable military comparison was made.

No better causes like getting of your terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan who have been funding trouble for years. If that means paying you back with the same coin then hey everything is fair in love and war, right?? Again, I reiterate that you started the arms race and now cry like kids seeing us move ahead with more nukes that can target your entire country big daddy!

I also know what happened in 1947 and Kargil as well when you went running to Israel to bail you out, remember?? Of course it was courage where you ran out of coffins such was the loss we gave you. Your malnourished, skinny and starving soldiers can only bully innocent kid's with stones in their hands like your Zionist masters, Israel. It wants none of Pak, we saw that after 26/11, Uri and Pathankot where your embarrassing threats lead to nothing.You will not dare even think of a conventional war with us instead watch how we hang your Kulbushan like we did your other terrorist Sarbjit Singh!

Say this anywhere in the world, and you will be laughed at. There is a reason why Pakistan keeps coming up with nuclear threats every time tension escalates, it is because you are no match conventionally. I know Pak army is big deal for deluded patriots like you, but it wouldn't hurt to know it's true place (aukat) when comparing against global powers.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

So will this project go through ??

 

[TM Riddle]

Everybody thinks they are the good guys. Even the Nazis thought what they were doing was for the best.


Same with India. Killing, raping and torturing Kashmiris but still think they are the good guys.

There's nothing good or evil as such when it comes to geopolitics.Its all about interests.Ind look after theirs and same goes for Pakistan.Things like killing,torture don't even matter now a days(not that it mattered in past either).Its all about money and power.Baluchistan,Kashmir are trivial issues in the eyes of world and only people who seem to care about them are a miniscule minority posting on forums like this.

 

[big_gamer007]

So a thread about trade turns into India vs Pakistan army fight.. Then people expect the two countries can grow strong together.. ���� Funniest part is reading a poster claim 'we' did this 'we' did that like he was part of the army himself.. Kids these days are so funny..

 

[PakLFC]

Lol.. you brought up the nukes, and now cry when the inevitable military comparison was made.




Say this anywhere in the world, and you will be laughed at. There is a reason why Pakistan keeps coming up with nuclear threats every time tension escalates, it is because you are no match conventionally. I know Pak army is big deal for deluded patriots like you, but it wouldn't hurt to know it's true place (aukat) when comparing against global powers.

No one is laughing at Pak at all. You see there will be no nuclear war because it means equal destruction on both sides so why does India not test is so called conventional strength. Modi was supposed to teach Pakistan a lesson that is never forthcoming most probably because you are crap scared of a massive retribution and getting beat up by a country none times smaller!!

 

[PakLFC]

India simply can not afford to fight Pakistan firstly because it is dead afraid of Pak and secondly in any war it's economy will be ruined. There is no such thing as a limited war once it starts. You see never mind a powerful country like Pak even little Sri Lanka is not afraid of India. I meant "nine" times smaller in the above post. So the ball is in Bharat's court as to if or not they want a fight to which we all know the answer! India does not have the will, capacity and above all heart to even think of something as such. On our part Pak being a peaceful nation will never initiate conflict leading to innocents being killed.