Pipeline politics—A study of India′s proposed cross border gas projects

• Published in: Energy policy 2013-11, Vol.62, p.145-156
• Main Authors: Nathan, Hippu Salk Kristle, Kulkarni, Sanket Sudhir, Ahuja, Dilip R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cost effectiveness; Cross border energy trade; Cross border transactions; energy; Energy economics; Foreign relations; Fossil fuels; Gas pipeline projects—IPI, TAPI, MBI; imports; India; International relations; International trade; Manycountries; Natural gas; Natural gas reserves; Pipelines; Political analysis; politics; Population; Regional security; Studies; Technology; Underwater pipelines
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.06.073

India′s energy situation is characterized by increasing energy demand, high fossil fuel dependency, large import shares, and significant portion of population deprived of modern energy services. At this juncture, natural gas, being the cleanest fossil fuel with high efficiency and cost effectiveness, is expected to play an important role. India, with only 0.6% of proven world reserves, is not endowed with adequate natural gas domestically. Nevertheless, there are gas reserves in neighbouring regions which gives rise to the prospects of three cross border gas pipeline projects, namely, Iran–Pakistan–India, Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India, and Myanmar–Bangladesh–India. This study is a political analysis of these pipeline projects. First, it provides justification on use of natural gas and promotion of cross border energy trade. Then it examines these three pipeline projects and analyses the security concerns, role of different actors, their positions, shifting goals, and strategies. The study develops scenarios on the basis of changing circumstances and discusses some of the pertinent issues like technology options for underground/underwater pipelines and role of private players. It also explores impact of India′s broader foreign relations and role of SAARC on the future of pipelines and proposes energy induced mutually assured protection (MAP) as a concept for regional security. •We justify the need for cross border energy trade through gas pipelines for India.•We examine prospective pipeline projects—IPI, TAPI, MBI and their security issues.•We develop scenarios and analyze role of actors, their positions, and strategies.•We discuss technology and policy options for realizing these gas pipelines.•We propose energy induced mutually assured protection (MAP) for regional security.