Turkmenistan invites CIS states to participate in TAPI
By Abdul Kerimkhanov
Turkmenistan has invited the CIS countries to participate in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
At a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government in Ashgabat, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that work on the TAPI gas pipeline project "is already in full swing."
Berdimuhamedov stressed that this project opens up prospects for interested CIS states to participate in it.
Turkmen president considers that TAPI project will contribute to the construction of related infrastructure, services and supplies of equipment necessary for the project implementation.
He also raised the issue of long-term energy supplies to the regions adjacent to the CIS to the east and south, in particular, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
The head of state pointed out that a number of CIS countries are among the largest producers and suppliers of hydrocarbons in Eurasia.
"A powerful resource base, transit advantages make it possible to implement large-scale, in many ways unique projects for the delivery of energy to international markets," Berdimuhamedov stated.
As he mentioned, a vivid example of this is the construction of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China, part of which run through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Construction of TAPI gas pipeline was launched in December 2015, while the construction of the Afghan part commenced in early 2018. The annual capacity of the gas pipeline will be 33 billion cubic meters.
As the leader of TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd, Turkmengas state concern, which has a controlling stake, is the main financier and project manager. The consortium also includes Afghanistan Gas Corporation, Pakistani Inter State Gas Systems Limited and Indian GAIL.
Turkmengas holds 85 percent stake on construction and operation of the pipeline. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India hold 5 percent each. Raw material for TAPI will be provided from Galkynysh, the largest natural gas field in Turkmenistan.
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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94
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