Moreover, the gas quality— except for hydrogen content and calorific value to be sorted out before the November signing — has been detailed, including the pressure at delivery. Compare that with Iran-India GSPA on which GAIL (India) has pointed out that the gas composition differed from that mentioned in the Iran-Pakistan GSPA.

The ADB is unambiguous that the GSPA would be for 30 years, followed by another 20 years for all buyers. As for the GSPA that Iran sent to Pakistan, the term was 30 years, while the one it sent to India fixed the supply period at 25 years. The GPFA on TAPI project lays down the formation of a consortium of all four players with willingness to provide support for attraction, promotion and protection of foreign and domestic investment in the project.

As for pipeline tariff, the computation will be through the internationally accepted cost-of-service methodology while transit fee would be based on the volume of gas exiting to the next receiving country. These issues remain unresolved between India and Pakistan with both singing their own song in absence of a laid-out methodology.

How Iran pipeline leans towards Pak

• Supply period for India fixed at 25 yrs while for Pakistan it’s 30 yrs

• Iran introduced a price revision in Clause 6.3 which India says should be included “only in case of extreme economic hardship”

• Only the Indian agreement has minimum payment clause in case of failure to take gas supply

... contd.