Pakistan's energy problem may be resolved by Iran
Mihaela PĂDUREANU
April 21, 2010
The Iranian Foreign
Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki declared that Iran
would be pleased to resolve Pakistan's
energy crisis. For this, Pakistan
is willing to send a high-powered energy delegation to Pakistan. Pakistan and Iran
finalized an agreement on piping Iranian gas on Pakistan. M.B. Abbasi, Pakistan's envoy to Teheran, added that nothing
can damage the historical relations between Pakistan
and Iran (Associated Press
of Pakistan).
Pakistan's energy problem is going to surface once
again during the summer. Only 60% of households have electricity and 18% of
households have access to pipeline gas for heating. It is expected that the
demand for energy will increase with 250% for the next 20 years. Pakistan has begun to resolve the problem of
missing resources asking Iran
to get involved. In May 2009 the two countries signed a deal worth 7.5 billion
dollars through which Iran
was going to supply Pakistan
with oil. This link will bring benefits to both of them. First of all Iran
will extend its influence. How much of this will transform in political decisions
is about to be seen. The second advantage is that Pakistan
manages to have a friendly relation with Iran
while receiving money from the US.
Although US` s first reaction was that it may not support such a link, Pakistan
did not withdraw from the plan. US might try to use the cooperation between the
both countries as a tool for bringing Iran in the international community
by expanding its commitments. The gas pipeline was supposed to include India too - by this making the pipeline a link
between the countries in South Asia. Through this
pipeline the relationship between India
and Pakistan
is supposed to be improved too.
Iran has made an offer to solve Pakistan's
issue. In December 2008 the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Signed
at Pakistan's request, the
Memorandum allowed Iran
to provide 1.135 MW with the possibility to double the export. But Iran's willingness has faced a circumspect Pakistan
for a year and a half. Although other countries were interested in Iran's resources, it chose Pakistan. Now it seems that Pakistan is more opened to Iran's offer. The Agreement and the
Operational Accord signed in Istanbul
on March 17 prove this.
Given the energy problem and Iran's
proposal, the extremist groups from Pakistan tried to use these facts
to blame the West for government's hesitation. If Pakistan reacted to US pressures
then its sovereignty could be put into question. The official explanation
for this delayed action is that there is no money. The absence of
infrastructure was included here too. But Iran has come with a counteroffer
to this and declared that the cooperation could include even financial assistance.
So it seemed that nothing stand against the cooperation between the two
countries.
The Pakistan
government does need money for technical assistance for a long-term energy
plan. These could be American money. The 3.5 billion dollars Kerry-Lugar plan for
Pakistan has been motivated by the need to prove US`s commitment to Pakistan.
The aid package is supposed to be used for `high-visibility infrastructure programmes'. But
will the Iranian-Pakistan ties be supported by US`s money? The pipeline is going
to extend from the Persian Gulf going through Baluchistan and ending in north India.
This will make millions of people dependent on Iran's gas. India may find alternatives for
this. It has a good relation with Russia so it may get gas from
there. But Pakistan needs to
find a way to resolve the energy problem it has and Iran is supposed to be included in
a network. The American money may come under some very hard conditions and
after some methods of control have been developed.
Another solution to the problem of
energy in South Asia is TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India)
project. But this project needs a stable Afghanistan. And a stable Afghanistan
is not available yet. That is why Pakistan
seems to depend on Iran
for solving its energy problem. Will Iran's influence be increased by
this agreement? For certain. But will the US be affected by this? Iran's power might be increased and it might
bring a major role in the South Asia for them.
But on the other hand might help to ensure cooperation between Iran and
the international community. Maybe this time trade and interdependence will be
tools which will help maintain peace on the region.
