President: Real progress observed in TAPI project implementation
By Aynur Jafarova
Real progress is being observed in the implementation of the
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project
(TAPI), Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said in his
message to the participants of the Turkmenistan's Oil and Gas
exhibition and conference (OGT-2013).
"I would like to emphasize that a great progress is observed in the
implementation process of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India
gas pipeline project (TAPI)," the message said.
The president stressed that Turkmenistan, which has great
hydrocarbon reserves and is located in a favorable geopolitical
position considers the reliability and security of hydrocarbon
supplies to world markets as an important element of sustainable
development.
The TAPI pipeline project with the designed capacity of 33 billion
cubic meters of natural gas per year will extend from the
Galkhynysh field in Turkmenistan through the Afghan cities of Herat
and Kandahar, reaching its destination in a settlement on the
Pakistani-Indian border.
The president also said that the implementation of large-scale
project to develop the country's largest Galkynysh gas field
actively continues.
"Currently, work on the construction of the gas treatment plant
with a production capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of market gas
per year continues rapidly within the second phase of development
of the gas field," the letter said.
The head of state recalled the recent launch of the gas cleaning
plants in the Galkynysh within the first phase.
According to Berdymukhamedov, the commissioning of the first stage
of the gas field, which is one of the largest storehouse of natural
gas in the world is a welcome fact.
"In recent years, this gas field has turned into a huge platform
for collaboration of specialists in the oil and gas industry of the
country with their foreign partners," the Turkmen president
noted.
Berdymukhamedov also said that the Turkmen specialists are working
shoulder to shoulder with colleagues from China, Korea and the
United Arab Emirates.
The Galkynysh field located in Turkmenistan's Mary province is
considered the second largest deposit in the world, with reserves
of 26.2 trillion cubic meters.
OGT-2013, a three-day international exhibition and conference which
is organized by Turkmen Oil and Gas Ministry, the Chamber of
Commerce with the participation of British Summit Trade Events Ltd.
was opened in Ashgabat on November 19.
The main theme of the conference is 'International cooperation in
the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan: the potential,
achievements and priorities'.