The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reconsidered its stance on the Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP), with officials now actively evaluating the ambitious project as escalating tensions in West Asia disrupt energy markets. In an official clarification issued on Tuesday, the Ministry stated it "has noticed a series of media reports suggesting that the Government of India is actively pursuing a deep-sea energy pipeline, sometimes referred to as the Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP), connecting Gujarat to Oman and other Gulf countries." The ministry categorically clarified 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." However, recent developments show the government is now tasking state-owned enterprises—including GAIL, Engineers India, and Indian Oil Corporation—with preparing a detailed feasibility report for the project. This renewed push follows a pre-feasibility study submitted by South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE) and could set the stage for formal negotiations with Oman on supply contracts, financing, and construction timelines.
The proposed pipeline would be a nearly 2,000-km subsea natural gas pipeline linking Gujarat with Oman and potentially other Gulf nations, with sections lying more than 3,000 metres below sea level. Recent technical assessments show that estimated transportation costs range from $2 to $2.25 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), based on current proposals. The pipeline would be installed at depths exceeding 3,000 metres below sea level, making it one of the deepest subsea energy corridors globally. While such a feat would have seemed impractical decades ago, advances in offshore engineering and subsea technology have improved the project's viability. The investment requirement is estimated at around ₹40,000 crore, according to estimates cited in industry circles. The collaboration is also expected to deepen bilateral economic ties and could provide a future template for connecting to other Gulf energy producers.
The government's renewed interest in the pipeline comes as India's energy security vulnerabilities have again come under focus due to instability in West Asia and heightened risks to maritime shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, carries nearly one-fifth of global oil trade and a significant share of LNG shipments, making it one of the world's most sensitive energy corridors. India, which imports the bulk of its crude oil and a large share of its natural gas needs, remains heavily dependent on these sea routes for uninterrupted energy supplies. Despite the challenging geopolitical situation, the government said energy supplies remain stable and adequate across the country. The pipeline vision is part of a broader strategy to enhance India's energy resilience and reduce over-dependence on vulnerable maritime routes, with analysts seeing potential for eventually transporting emerging fuels like hydrogen to align with global trends toward cleaner energy.
Despite the pipeline denial, maritime operations continue normally across India with no congestion reported. The Malta-flagged LNG carrier DISHA, managed by a Shipping Corporation of India-led consortium, safely transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday with a cargo of 62,370 metric tonnes of LNG bound for Dahej in Gujarat, and is likely to reach India on June 18. The government said it remains in continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, shipping companies, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has also advised shipping companies as well as maritime recruitment and placement agencies to restrict deployment of Indian seafarers to in the Middle East conflict areas until further orders, days after three Indian seafarers onboard MT Settebello were killed after the US military strike on the commercial vessel off the Oman coast. The DG Shipping control room has received 406 calls and 784 emails over the past 96 hours and has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 3,587 Indian seafarers from the Gulf region so far.
Despite geopolitical tensions, the government has ensured uninterrupted energy supply across the country. Supplies of LPG, PNG and CNG across the country remain unaffected despite the challenging situation. Priority supplies are being ensured for hospitals, educational institutions and key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, steel, automobiles and agriculture. To manage demand, the government has implemented several measures, including boosting refinery production, extending LPG booking intervals and increasing the availability of 5-kg cylinders for migrant workers and students. The Petroleum Ministry emphasized that these measures are designed to maintain energy stability while managing demand during the current geopolitical environment. For now, the Oman-Gujarat pipeline remains a plan on paper, but as geopolitical instability in West Asia continues to threaten critical energy corridors, the urgency to revisit and potentially realise this long-standing vision has reached a new high.
