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Multiple Indian subcontinent countries may join Pakistan Stream project — minister

Russia and Pakistan signed an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the North-South gas pipeline (Pakistan Stream) in October 2015

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Several countries from the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, could potentially participate in the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline (PSGP) project, Pakistani Energy Minister Awais Leghari stated in an interview with TASS. Discussions regarding their involvement are currently underway, he added.

"Many issues remain unresolved. Where will the gas molecules originate from, and where will they be delivered? How many countries will join the project? Will Pakistan serve as the final destination, or will there be further regional connections? Will other Indian subcontinent countries participate? All these matters are still being deliberated," Leghari explained when asked about the current status of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project.

At this stage, the negotiation process does not provide clarity on "when the construction or financing of this large-scale project will be finalized," the minister added.

Russia and Pakistan signed an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the North-South gas pipeline (Pakistan Stream) in October 2015. The pipeline will span approximately 1,100 kilometers, with a planned throughput capacity of up to 12.4 billion cubic meters per year. Initially, commercial agreements were to be signed in 2016, and the pipeline was expected to be operational by 2018. However, the timeline has been delayed multiple times.

On May 28, 2021, Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov and Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Shafqat Ali Khan signed a document enabling progress toward the practical implementation of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project in the near future.

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