Official talks on India-Bangladesh-Myanmar gas pipeline will start soon, said Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner to India, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.

The much delayed project was re-evaluated recently during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh as cooperation between the three countries has improved, the newspaper said.

The idea of the 900 km pipeline was first mooted in 1997. The pipeline was to supply five billion cubic meters of gas from the Swe field in Southern Myanmar.

In 2005, three countries reached an agreement but Bangladesh government withdrew from the project after India refused to accept its three additional conditions.

With renewal of talks Myanmar’s estimated 90 trillion cubic feet gas reserves will be available for meeting India’s energy needs.