TAPI member-states mull project’s technical presentation
By Aynur Karimova
Representatives of countries involved in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, as well as managers of the Asian Development Bank have discussed the technical and commercial presentation of the TAPI project.
The presentation developed by the ADB was discussed at the regular meeting on the project held in Dubai.
The TAPI project, with a proposed capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, will extend from Galkynysh field in Turkmenistan through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar to its final point at a settlement on the Pakistani-Indian border.
The ADB was appointed as the transaction advisor for the TAPI gas pipeline project in November 2013. In that role, ADB advised on the establishment of the TAPI pipeline company as an integral part of the larger goal of identifying and selecting a commercial consortium leader to spearhead the construction and operation of the pipeline.
The feasibility study of the project was developed in 2008, and is projected to exceed $10 billion.
In October 2014 the ADB awarded British Penspen Company a contract to carry out a feasibility study for the construction of the pipeline. Penspen awarded a sub-contract to the Netherlands-based Royal HaskoningDHV, an international engineering, consultancy and project management firm, to undertake the important environmental and social safeguards components of the study.
Experts believe that TAPI is not only a regional project envisaging the transportation of Turkmen gas, but also a global one.
The implementation of the project will strengthen Turkmenistan's independence, and its gas supplies to world markets will increase significantly.
TAPI is an opportunity to contribute to the stability of Afghanistan that could contribute to the rehabilitation process in the post-war country.
It will also create more job opportunities and provide Afghanistan with a guaranteed income from the transit.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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