Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 15
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ordered to step up the construction of the strategically important Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, with a design capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year, Trend reports referring to the local Altyn Asyr TV channel.
The issue was discussed at a government meeting. "Diversification of the supply of Turkmen energy resources through new pipelines to foreign countries is a significant factor in ensuring energy security," the head of state was quoted in the report.
Berdimuhamedov also noted that work should continue on the implementation of projects to modernize the fuel and energy sector, including in the field of exploration and development of new oil and gas fields, the processing of hydrocarbons and the production of finished products.
The length of the Turkmen section of the TAPI pipeline, the construction of which was launched in December 2015, will be 205 kilometers. The pipeline will pass through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar (816 kilometers), through the cities of Quetta and Multan across Pakistani territory (819 kilometers), and reach the city of Fazilka in India. The construction of the Afghan section of the pipeline was initiated in February 2018, while the construction of the Pakistani section is set to begin in October 2019.
The Turkmengas State Concern is the leader of the TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd. international consortium. It has a controlling stake and acts as the main financier and manager of the project. The consortium also includes the Afghan Gas Corporation, Pakistan’s Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited Company and India’s GAIL Company.
Three main areas for participation by potential foreign investors in the project are trade, supply of pipe and gas equipment; financing through provision of loans; and investment in the TAPI project and in development of the big Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan and participation in the consortium. The project’s cost is estimated at about $8 billion.
