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The second meeting of the Pakistan-India Joint Working Group on cooperation on the Iran-Pakistan India (IPI) pipeline project was held in Islamabad, on 8-9 September, 2005. The Pakistani delegation was led by Mr. Ahmad Waqar, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources, while the Indian delegation was led by Mr. S.C. Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
During the visit, the Indian delegation called on H.E. Mr. Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, and H.E. Mr. Muhammad Naseer Mengal, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Resources. The Ministers reaffirmed to the Indian delegation the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to the IPI project and other transnational pipeline projects under consideration. Mr. S.C. Tripathi reiterated that Government of India was also strongly supportive of these transnational gas pipeline proposals, which were crucial for the energy security and economic development of the two countries.
The discussions between the two delegations were conducted in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and cooperation with a view to carry forward the momentum of the dialogue to realize the projects at the earliest.
The Pakistan side briefed the Indian delegation on the status in regard to the appointment of their financial advisory consortium for the project. The Indian side said that it had appointed an international company, M/s Ernst & Young, as financial consultant and had initiated action to appoint technical and legal consultants who would support the financial consultant.
The two sides noted with satisfaction that there had been considerable progress in addressing the various issues pertaining to the IPI project since the first meeting of the Pakistan-India JWG in New Delhi in July, 2005. The Pakistan Government had decided to join the energy Charter Treaty (ECT) as an Observer, while the Indian proposal for joining the ECT as Observer was under process for approval.
The Indian side informed that they had held discussions with Iran in August, 2005, after which the Iranian side had provided the technical portion of the pre-feasibility report prepared by the Iranian consultants for the project.
The JWG examined in detail the various technical, financial, commercial and legal aspects of the project. The main points discussed in the JWG meeting included Gas Reserve Certification and Allocation. Gas Quantity and Build-up, Gas Quality, System Configuration and Project Structure. Other matters discussed were pipeline routing, delivery points, transportation tariff, transit fee, capital and operating costs and pipeline security etc.
Both sides reiterated that IPI pipeline project should be a safe and secure world-class project. Accordingly, it was agreed that every effort would be made to adopt best international practices and standards. At the same time, international standards relating to health, safety and the environment would also be adopted in the implementation of the project.
It was agreed that the Indian side would provide the Pakistan side drafts of the Tripartite Agreement which would be discussed in the next meeting of the JWG.
The two sides noted the progress relating to gas reserve certification in respect of the TAP Pipeline Project which India has proposed to join as an Observer. With regard to the GUSA Pipeline Project, the Indian side conveyed that they had formally approached the Qatar Government to join the project.
Both sides noted that the Indian Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj, H.E. Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, had invited H.E. Mr. Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, to visit India in October, 2005. The visit of HE Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj, Government of India may then be planned to Pakistan in early December, 2005. It was agreed that these visits would accelerate the pace of progress pertaining to the IPI and other transnational pipeline projects.
The following actionables were agreed by the two sides:
a) The next meeting of JWG may be held in New Delhi in the 2nd week of November, 2005; and
b) Finalization of the Tripartite Framework Agreement by December, 2005.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
New Delhi : Bhadrapada 22, 1927/ September 13, 2005
RCJ/GS/ “IPI-IndPkJWG2nd Meet(100905)”
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