An Iranian deputy oil minister says Pakistan has raised its demand for natural gas imports from Iran to 30 million cubic meters (mcm) per day from a previous 21.5 mcm.
The remarks by Javad Owji, who is also managing director of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), coincided with the inauguration on Monday of the multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project to carry natural gas from Iran to its eastern neighbor.
“Negotiations have started with the Pakistani side to that effect and in case of an agreement, an appendix will be attached to the current contract,” Owji said.
He added that the pipeline would totally cost USD 5 billion.
Owji added that Iran has hitherto spent USD 2 billion to build its own section and that the Pakistani section would need USD 3 billion.
The official stated that the 2,000-kilometer pipeline, 780 km of which is on the Pakistani side, would start pumping 1.5 mcm per day of natural gas to Pakistan as of December 2014.
“Iran can serve as a secure source for the transfer of energy to the neighboring states and distant markets,” he said.
The pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of 180 million is grappling with serious energy shortages.
The United States has repeatedly opposed the project.
“If this deal is finalized for a proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline, it would raise serious concerns under our Iran Sanctions Act. We’ve made that absolutely clear to our Pakistani counterparts,” State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, said last week.
