Improved situation in Afghanistan offers chance to move forward with TAPI gas pipeline construction - project operator
ASHGABAT. Oct 24 (Interfax) - The situation in Afghanistan is improving significantly, and this provides an opportunity to move forward with construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, CEO and board chairman of the pipeline's construction operator TAPI Pipeline Company Muhammetmyrat Amanov said.
"In principle, every major project faces certain challenges, and of course TAPI is no exception. Security issues, especially in Afghanistan, remain quite pressing. However, we are seeing significant improvements in the security situation there, which gives us the opportunity to move forward," Amanov was quoted as saying by News Central Asia during a panel discussion at the Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2024 conference.
Turkmenistan is working closely with the country's government to ensure security and progress on the project, he said.
"On the other hand, financial and logistical difficulties are also an inherent part of such a large-scale project. The project is working with international partners and investors on this issue to ensure financing," he said.
Amanov said construction of the TAPI pipeline's Afghan section was recently launched, in September 2024, along the route Serhetabat-Herat.
"This is a crucial part of the larger TAPI gas pipeline project. Current activities on this segment include detailed engineering surveys and mobilizing workers, as well as purchasing the required materials such as pipes, insulation materials and other equipment," he said.
"We are working with the local authorities to ensure the security of the gas pipeline and its construction workers," he said.
"The TAPI project affirms our commitment to provide economic benefits for the local community by creating jobs and developing infrastructure. It also expresses the participating countries' overall readiness to continue strengthening energy security and promote economic growth," he said.
The TAPI trunk gas pipeline, with a design capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year, will run from the Galkynysh gas field in southern Turkmenistan through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar, Quetta and Multan in Pakistan to the city of Fazilka in western India. The total length of the gas pipeline will be 1,814 km, 214 km of which go through the territory of Turkmenistan, 774 km through Afghanistan and 826 km through the territory of Pakistan to the border with India.
The project is being implemented by the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited consortium, 85% of which is owned by Turkmengaz. The Afghan Gas Corporation, the Pakistani Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited and the Indian GAIL each have 5% shares in the consortium. It emerged this week that Kazakhstan has shown interest in joining the project.
The total cost of the gas pipeline will be $10 billion, according to preliminary estimates.
The Galkynysh field is in pilot production. Its reserves, together with the adjacent Yashlar and Garakel fields, are estimated at 27.4 trillion cubic meters. Galkynysh is currently producing 20 billion cubic meters of gas per year, with projected capacity of 30 bcm.
