It is planned to hold a meeting of representatives of interested countries on the implementation Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, a message from the government of Turkmenistan said.
The meeting of the TAPI Technical Working Group and Steering Committee will be held as part of the Oil and Gas Conference to be held in Ashgabat on Nov.18-20, according to the message.
Moreover, the negotiations will be held between the interested countries and transactional advisor to the project – the Asian Development Bank.
This issue was discussed during the meeting of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers during which the country’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed the need for the active promotion of TAPI transnational gas pipeline, according to the message.
The president said that the project, which aims to promote the sustainable socio-economic development of the participating countries, also can be a real bridge of friendship and fruitful cooperation in Asia.
“Talking about the significance of this large energy project, Turkmen president also said that its implementation will make real contribution to the strengthening of global energy security which is the key factor of the global sustainable development,” the message said.
It was earlier reported that Turkmengaz State Concern, Afghan Gas Corporation, Pakistan’s Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited and India’s GAIL (India) Limited established an operating company for the TAPI pipeline. The company will construct the TAPI pipeline and will be engaged in the operation of this pipeline.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said at the meeting of the Council of Elders in October that it is planned to start the construction of TAPI in 2015.
The basic document for the promotion of TAPI is Ashgabat interstate agreement signed between the participating states in 2010 on starting the practical implementation of this project.
The design capacity of the TAPI will be up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year, while the expected lifetime is 30 years.
The total length of TAPI will reach 1,735 kilometers. Some 200 kilometers of the pipeline will run through Turkmenistan, 735 kilometers – through Afghanistan, 800 kilometers – through Pakistan to the settlement of Fazilka, located on the border with India.
