Govt not considering Oman-India deep-sea gas pipeline project: Petroleum Ministry

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on Tuesday clarified that it is not considering any proposal for a deep-sea energy pipeline connecting India with Oman or other Gulf countries, dismissing recent media reports that suggested the project was being actively pursued.

In a statement, the ministry said it had taken note of reports referring to a proposed Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP), linking Gujarat with Oman and potentially other Gulf nations.

"The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas wishes to categorically clarify that no such proposal is currently under consideration by this Ministry. There are no active discussions or negotiations with Oman or any other Gulf countries on this project at any level in this Ministry," it said.

The ministry said the clarification was being issued to "put all speculation in this regard to rest".

The statement comes amid renewed media attention on a decades-old proposal for a nearly 2,000-km subsea natural gas pipeline between Oman and Gujarat, which some reports described as a potential solution to energy security concerns arising from geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

The proposed pipeline, estimated to cost around ₹40,000 crore, has been examined periodically over the past three decades but never moved beyond the planning stage because of high costs, technological challenges and concerns over commercial viability.

The project has been promoted by South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), which has said it conducted technical and financial assessments and seabed surveys for the proposed route.

According to project proposals cited in media reports, the pipeline would transport natural gas directly from Oman to India's western coast through one of the deepest subsea routes ever attempted, with sections lying more than 3,000 metres below sea level.

Interest in the proposal resurfaced following concerns over the vulnerability of global energy supply chains amid recurring tensions in West Asia and volatility in international energy markets.

However, the ministry's clarification indicates that the project is not currently part of the government's policy considerations and that no formal engagement on the matter is underway with Gulf nations.