Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Aug. 3 / Trend H.Hasanov /
Ashgabat is hosting these days (August 2-3) a regular meeting of the technical working group on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, the Turkmen government said on Friday.
The event is attended by representatives of all four participating countries and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
"The meeting emphasized the importance of speedy implementation of the project and recognized the need to strengthen joint efforts in this direction," the information said.
The agenda includes the organization of business tour in order to attract leading international oil and gas companies and financial institutions in the consortium to be established for the implementation of the TAPI project. Business tour will be conducted in business and financial centers in different regions - in the cities of Singapore, New York, London.
At the meeting it was noted that an important step is to finance the project and to create a consortium that will provide the construction and future operation of the pipeline. Currently all the necessary legal framework has been set up.
The meeting presented a list of companies to be invited to participate in the above-mentioned meetings and presentations.
According to the feasibility of the project, the TAPI pipeline 1735 km long will start from the eastern region of Turkmenistan, where the largest gas fields are situated, and, after passing through the territory of Afghanistan and Pakistan will reach settlement of Fazilka (India) on the Pakistani-Indian border. Long-term supplies of Turkmen natural gas excessing 30 billion cubic meters a year will be made through the gas pipeline.
The information highlights the fact that construction of this transnational gas pipeline, in addition to purely economic issues, will allow participating countries to solve a number of important social and humanitarian issues, including those related to the creation of additional jobs, the formation of transport communications and social infrastructure along the entire gas pipeline and will contribute to the maintenance and strengthening of political and social stability throughout the region.
"The participants reaffirmed their countries' high interest in the speedy implementation of the project for the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline and supply of Turkmen natural gas," the information said.
Turkmenistan as a seller of natural fuel in May 2012 signed with Pakistan and India. A memorandum of understanding was signed with Afghanistan.