NEW DELHI, Sept 1: The Indian government has said that no formula has been finalised yet on the transit fees payable to Pakistan under Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora said that the issue of transit fees was discussed during the last India-Pakistan Joint Working Group meeting in June this year where it was agreed that the charge should be based on “the cost of service to be achieved through international competitive bidding.” But, he said, there was no agreement yet.
The Hindu said in a report that during the fourth tripartite meeting held in Tehran pricing formula on gas on the Iran-Pakistan border was agreed between Iran and Pakistan, subject to approval from their governments. But, the report added, the Indian side informed Iran that the total price payable for the gas on the India-Pakistan border would also “depend on transportation cost and transit fees payable to Pakistan.”
The report quoting Murli Deora said since there was no clarity on these matters, it would not be possible for India to decide the final price.—APP
