"We are very keen to join the TAP pipeline project, which government sees as another source to procure gas from abroad. Minister of State for Petroleum Dinsha Patel had gone last month to Turkmenistan and they have shown positive signal for India joining the project," Murali Deora said.
The ministry had already given an in-principle clearance to the project, he added. The $2.5 billion project includes construction of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan to provide cheaper and cleaner energy to south and central Asian regions.
The government, Deora said, was working hard to resolve issues related to the IPI pipeline. "Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan was in Islamabad for the last three days and held discussions with his Pakistani and Iranian counterparts. We are expecting things to get resolved very soon," he said.
India produces about 90 million standard cubic meters of natural gas per day as against its daily demand of 120 million standard cubic meters that is likely to go further in the coming years.
Asked about the time frame for all gas pipeline projects, including that from Myanmar, Deora said the projects were at the initial stages and was very difficult to set a definite time frame for its commencement.