Iran gas pipeline roadmap by year end

The framework agreement outlining the road map for the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline was likely to be finalised by the end of the year, Talmiz Ahmed, additional secretary in the petroleum ministry said.

India will appoint a financial, a legal and a technical consultant for the project. "Gail (India) Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation will appoint legal and technical consultants for the project. Since our companies have the technical expertise, we may not need technical consultants from outside," Ahmed told reporters after the first meeting of the India-Iran special joint working group on the tri-nation gas pipeline.

Ahmed, however, said the lead role would be played by the financial consultant, who would bring together the other two consultants. There would be preliminary understanding on the preferred project structure by early November, as per his recommendations.