Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 1 / Trend, H. Hasanov /
Ankara has taken an interest in the project of construction of the Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India (TAPI) gas pipeline, a joint declaration signed during Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov's visit to Turkey, says.
The document was signed after the talks and high-level meetings.
Turkmen leader's visit will run from Feb.28 to March 1, 2012.
"The parties confirmed the need for continuing work on the development of regional projects aimed at restoring and development of socio-economic spheres of Afghanistan. In this regard, the Turkish side expressed its interest in major projects, including the Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, increasing supply of Turkmen electricity to Afghanistan, as well as projects of transport infrastructure development and expressed its support for these projects," the declaration says.
The parties confirm their willingness together with the international community to take an active part in the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan and make systematic efforts for revival of Afghanistan, which strives for a peaceful, stable and independent development.
It was reported earlier that the basic document for the project's promotion is Ashgabat interstate agreement of the member states on start of initial implementation of TAPI project signed in late 2010.
At this stage, a principle of forming an international consortium is under discussion, and the project financing issue is being resolved. The agenda include payment for transit and security of this project. Gas purchase agreement is scheduled to be signed soon.
The gas pipeline's designed capacity is 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The buyers are gas companies of Pakistan and India.
The project is promoted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Besides Dovletabad deposit, the largest 'Southern Yeloten - Osman' (Galkynysh) deposit developed in Turkmenistan may also become the raw materials base. The length of the pipeline may be 1,735 kilometers.
Russia attaches interest to this project at a high level and its implementation is supported by the United States. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov urged newly appointed heads of the country's oil and gas sector to accelerate implementation of TAPI gas pipeline project.
India is pleased with the progress in the country's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in his letter to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov on the occasion of his election to the second term.
In turn, President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, in his congratulatory message to President Berdimuhammadov expressed his confidence that " vital bilateral and regional projects will be implemented through joint efforts".