New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Tuesday dismissed media reports suggesting that India is actively pursuing a proposed deep-sea energy pipeline connecting Gujarat with Oman and other Gulf nations, clarifying that no such project is currently under consideration.
In an official clarification, the ministry categorically stated that there are no active discussions, negotiations or proposals at any level regarding the so-called Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP).
“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,” the statement said.
The clarification came amid some media reports claiming that India was exploring a nearly 2,000-km subsea gas pipeline linking Oman to Gujarat as part of efforts to strengthen long-term energy security, particularly in the backdrop of recent geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Some reports had described the proposed Oman-Gujarat deep-sea gas pipeline as a potential alternative energy corridor that could reduce India’s dependence on maritime oil and gas shipments passing through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, which has remained vulnerable during regional conflicts.
The reports further suggested that renewed discussions around the decades-old proposal had gained traction amid concerns over energy disruptions linked to instability in West Asia.
The proposed project, previously promoted by South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), had been examined intermittently over the past three decades. According to earlier reports, technical assessments, financial studies and seabed surveys had reportedly been undertaken to examine the feasibility of the route.
If implemented, the pipeline was expected to transport natural gas directly from Oman to India’s western coast through one of the deepest undersea routes attempted globally. Media estimates had placed the potential cost of the project at around ₹40,000 crore.
However, the ministry’s latest clarification effectively puts to rest speculation over any immediate government move to revive the proposal.
“The clarification is issued to put all speculation in this regard to rest,” the ministry added.
The government statement makes clear that, despite renewed public discussion surrounding the concept, the proposed deepwater energy corridor is not part of any active policy deliberation or bilateral engagement between India and Gulf nations at present.
