MOSCOW – Pakistan and Russia have finalised a memorandum of understandingfor conducting a feasibility study for a planned undersea gas pipelineproject, which could eventually involve Iran and India as well.

Pakistan foreign office spokesman Muhammad Faisal told a weekly newsbriefing on Thursday: “The ministries of energy of Pakistan and the Russianfederation have finalised a MoU for conducting a feasibility study forimplementation of an undersea gas pipeline project.”

According to the details available so far, the project will eventuallyinvolve four countries — Pakistan, Russia, Iran and India. It has beenunder discussion since last year.

“The purpose of the MoU is to assist in providing support for therealisation of the project. Based on the results of the feasibility study,the two sides will take a decision for its future,” Faisal said.

He said Russia has been keen on promoting energy cooperation with Pakistan.“The two countries have concluded various proposals in the energy sector,including construction of the North-South Gas Pipeline, import of LNG fromRussia, installation of an air mix plant and establishing a 600-MW combinedcycle power plant,” he said.

Responding to a question, he denied the new project will replace thestalled Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. “The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is aseparate project,” he said