India imports about 70% of its oil, a dependence that may increase to over 91% by 2020. About 45% of present needs comes from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) according to Indian Planning Commission figures, and if oil imports from other parts of the Middle East are included, the region accounts for about 67% of India's oil imports. Turkey's offer to India is seen to have considerable potential. The Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, also known as the Trans-Israel pipeline or Tipline, has been functioning for several years. Built in 1968 to transport oil from Iran to Israel, it was latterly largely unused except to carry relatively-small quantities of Egyptian oil from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. The direction of the flow was reversed a few years ago when Russia began transporting oil through Israel to the Gulf of Aqaba and onwards to Asian markets. Using the pipeline and the Gulf of Aqaba would let India's supplies avoid the Suez canal route, with several advantages. Israeli ports, already supplied by super tankers, accommodate larger vessels than those that can pass through the Suez Canal, and tariffs for the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline are lower than those charged by Egypt for shipping through the Suez, itself a more congested route than the Gulf of Aqaba. Costs could fall further if a proposed subsea pipeline connecting Ceyhan with Israel goes ahead. Mr Babacan said in Delhi that a feasibility report on the project will be conducted soon. The supply deal with Turkey would extend India's links with both that country and with Israel. The Indian Oil Corporation has bought a 12.5% share in Botas' Samsum-Ceyhan pipeline, while India's ties with Israel have been significantly extended over the past decade or so.