India says IPI deal soon

NEW DELHI, April 28 (UPI) -- India says a deal on the $7.4 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline will be struck soon.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said he would apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of bilateral talks with Pakistan during the coming week. He said India and Pakistan had almost worked out a general agreement on the transit fee, adding the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would be used to pave the way for talks on the deal.

"The talks with the Pakistan leadership were very cordial and assuring. I will be updating the prime minister on all the issues, including the IPI pipeline, and also the $7.3 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline that India has formally joined this time," he said.

The next round of ministerial negotiations on TAPI will be held in October after a certification of Turkmenistan's gas assets, local media reported Monday.

"I am very optimistic about the IPI pipeline, as it would go a long way in meeting India's energy requirements in the long run," Deora said.