Private investors plan to expand gas pipeline network amid complex policies

Indian and foreign investors have shown interest in the country's plans to expand its domestic gas pipeline network but remain worried about steel capacities at home and the complex pricing policies

The Hiranandani group’s H-Energy plans to import gas from Russia to supply Bangladesh, though Myanmar next door is practically afloat on gas. But it is not H-Energy’s fault for having signed a deal with Novatek, Russia’ second-largest gas producer, in September last year. Eighty per cent of the gas from Myanmar’s Shwe pipeline flows to China — even though India holds a stake in the pipeline.

The Shwe gas project is majority-held by South Korean Posco International (51 per cent) but India’s ONGC Videsh and GAIL hold 25.5 per cent together. China has a major gas deficit, with almost three-fourths