Russian expert says implementation of TAPI project not expected soon
A Russian analyst believes that no preconditions have been set forth that would allow for progress to begin on the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline in the near future.
"The TAPI project has been the subject of discussions for nearly 15 years, and its key issue has always been the project's security in Afghanistan," General Director of the Russian Institute of National Energy, Sergei Pravosudov told Trend news agency. "A solution has not yet been found. Given the proposed withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2014, it is unknown who will ensure the safety of the pipeline."
According to him, relations between Pakistan and India are also problematic.
"In addition, there is an alternative Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline which is limited by tensions between India and Pakistan," Pravosudov said.
The design capacity of TAPI is up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The length of the pipeline may reach 1,735 kilometers. According to the project, the highway should reach out to the largest Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar, to reach its final point at the village of Fazilka on the border between India and Pakistan.