Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will pay an official visit to Turkmenistan May 20 to discuss TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) joint gas pipeline project, the Pakistani media said, referring to the country’s officials.
It is necessary to build a pipeline worth $10 billion to import gas on the specified route, the Express Tribune Pakistani newspaper said.
Earlier, the project cost was estimated at $7.5 billion, according to the newspaper.
Previously, the Turkmen Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry said that an international tender will be announced soon to select the leader of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project consortium.
TAPI’s total length is planned to be 1,735 kilometers, including 200 kilometers running through Turkmenistan, 735 kilometers – through Afghanistan, 800 kilometers – through Pakistan up to the Fazilka settlement on the border with India.
The pipeline’s annual capacity will be 33 billion cubic meters.
“The economic feasibility of this project, which is based on the high demand for natural gas in South Asia, is also emphasized by the fact that none of its participants has any doubt in Turkmenistan’s ability to ensure the long-term gas supplies on this route,” the ministry said.
