Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 18
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
The practical implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline construction project was discussed during a meeting between Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Afghan Mines and Petroleum Minister Daud Shah Saba in Ashgabat, the Turkmen government said Sept. 18.
During the meeting, in particular, the sides discussed the partnership in the fuel-energy sector.
"The most important aspect of Turkmenistan's energy strategy is to form a reliable mechanism for secure transit of energy resources to the world markets," the president said.
"The major infrastructure projects, including such important areas as power engineering, are planned to be implemented with the participation of the Afghan side," the statement said. "Particular importance is attached to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project implementation."
According to the statement, the president stressed great success in this direction. The major issues of this project implementation were resolved.
"This is an important condition to ensure the sustainable economic and social restoration in Afghanistan, the friendly country's successful joining the regional and global economic relations," the president said.
The basic document for the TAPI promotion is the Ashgabat interstate agreement on launching the practical implementation of this project signed between the participating countries in 2010.
The annual pumping capacity of the gas pipeline will be 33 billion cubic meters.
The gas pipeline's total length will be 1,735 kilometers; some 200 kilometers of this will run through Turkmenistan, 735 kilometers - through Afghanistan, 800 kilometers - through Pakistan to the Fazilka settlement on the border with India.
The TAPI project cost is up to $10 billion.
Edited by CN