Modi 3.0 - Bharat

[williams]

India’s 2,000 KM Undersea Gas Pipeline Plan to Bypass Strait of Hormuz | Connecting The Dots

I am hope this happens. I have worked on aspects ofthis project nearly 20 years ago. Even today it remains closetomuy heart.

At that time lack of GoI follow through resulted on it being shelved. There are considerable engineering challenges.

As a young PM I had even tried to anticipate challenges and dedicated 2 years plus of my firm's R& D time. I really hope it materialises.

There are other challenges too. This will only bring Omani gas and not too much to India. Need an overland connection to the Qatar and UAE gas grid. And given that the Barrakah nuclear plant has started generating a sufficient amount of electricity in UAE the earlier Qatari has capacity being used to generate power in UAE maybe available.

If they can pull this off it will be massive.

Noob question. Can such a pipeline be subject to peacefuls blowing things up? In other words how can we guarantee security of this thing? In my mind once we have it, we will become dependent on it. How do we manage disruptions that will create a energy hostage situation.

[Rudradev]

In the long run, any external source of energy we depend on can become a knife to our throat. Witness what's happening with the Strait of Hormuz right now. With a pipeline this is mitigated somewhat, because (a) it's really difficult to blow up something that deep under the ocean (b) if there are multi-nation economic dependencies on the pipeline, especially on the part of the energy suppliers, it discourages attempts at malfeasance by peacefuls-- especially Pakis, who depend on those same supplier nations' largesse for their survival.

Monitoring this may be aided by unmanned submersible drones. I think UCSVs are a critical investment India is going to have to make anyway to safeguard and exert sea denial throughout its vast Indian Ocean sphere of interest, so building a system to patrol the pipeline can be a good place to start.

[Mukesh.Kumar]

.Noob question. Can such a pipeline be subject to peacefuls blowing things up? In other words how can we guarantee security of this thing? In my mind once we have it, we will become dependent on it. How do we manage disruptions that will create a energy hostage situation.

No guarantees Williams-ji. But having supply routes increases resilience. As of now only AmirKhan, Lizard and the Bear have the capability to hit the pipeline underwater. Unlikely anyone will hit the Oman terminal near Ras al Jinz given it's neutral and equidistant political stance. Attacking Indian end remains a possibility. The great thing is that starting in Oman, a nation with favourable relations with India, it is likely to be pretty safe provided we can strike a long term deal with Oman for gas.

For reference the Arabian Gas pipeline grid through which gas from other countries can be sent to India. Oman produces about 150 million cu.m. gas daily which may not be enough to supply India's needs (currently India imports about 125 cu.m. daily and growing). Pic Source: Research Gate

[Mukesh.Kumar]

In the long run, any external source of energy we depend on can become a knife to our throat. Witness what's happening with the Strait of Hormuz right now. With a pipeline this is mitigated somewhat, because (a) it's really difficult to blow up something that deep under the ocean (b) if there are multi-nation economic dependencies on the pipeline, especially on the part of the energy suppliers, it discourages attempts at malfeasance by peacefuls-- especially Pakis, who depend on those same supplier nations' largesse for their survival.

Monitoring this may be aided by unmanned submersible drones. I think UCSVs are a critical investment India is going to have to make anyway to safeguard and exert sea denial throughout its vast Indian Ocean sphere of interest, so building a system to patrol the pipeline can be a good place to start.

Thank you Rudradevji for articulating what I intended to convey far more coherently and succinctly.

[V_Raman]

Not having the pipeline by now is a complete strategic failure - result of chasing cheapest oil mindset