Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Thursday, 15 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 December 2005. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 December 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Petroleum Supplies

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for the security of supply of the proposed India, Pakistan and Iran petroleum pipeline.

Answer: The Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline was one of three gas pipeline importation projects approved by the Indian Cabinet in February.The pipeline, construction of which is due to commence by mid-2007 with the first gas delivered by the end of 2010, will have to overcome significant security and operational challenges if it is to be successful. These include its proposed length and route, which will take it through the troubled Pakistani province of Balochistan. Discussions, including on how best to secure the pipeline, are under way between the interested parties and I understand that senior Indian and Pakistani petroleum officials announced in New Delhi on 17 December that experts from their countries and Iran will hold their first tripartite meeting in Tehran in early February 2006.

Secondary information