...

TAPI to ensure peace, stability in region – Turkmen president

Turkmenistan Materials 14 December 2015 15:37 (UTC +04:00)
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project will contribute to peace and stability in the region
TAPI to ensure peace, stability in region – Turkmen president

Mary, Turkmenistan, Dec. 14

By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:

Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project will contribute to peace and stability in the region, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov said at the solemn ceremony of laying the pipeline, Trend's special correspondent reported.

"This project is important not only because it will help us deliver energy resources," Berdimuhammadov said. "It will also help the participants of the project economically and will promote peace and sustainable development, contribute to the economic development of the countries involved in it."

He said that Turkmenistan is well aware how important stable supplies of hydrocarbons to the world market are.

The president went on to add that Turkmenistan is rich in energy resources, including natural gas, and the country tries to increase its export. He said that oil and gas fields in Turkmenistan are quickly developed thanks to the introduction of new technologies.

The Turkmen leader said that the TAPI project opens up new opportunities for cooperation and development.

In addition, Berdimuhammadov said that the third phase of the Galkynysh field development which started December 13 creates conditions for development of cooperation and ensuring stable supplies of energy resources.

In turn, president of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani said that the laying of TAPI is a historic moment because, in his words, "it was possible to overcome the period of doubts and skepticism." In addition, this is a message to the whole world that the countries of the region are ready to change the lives of their citizens for the better, said Ghani.

He went on to add that TAPI will help the development of cooperation between the Central and Middle Asia, and expressed hope that the pipeline will trigger the creation of various types of infrastructure in the region, including railways, roads, power transmission lines (PTL) and fiber-optic cable.

Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who took part in the solemn ceremony, expressed his confidence that the TAPI gas pipeline will enter a new chapter into the history of the region.

He said that one can no longer allow the destructive forces to interfere with development of the region, and the pipeline will bring great benefit to future generations.

The vice president said that India will apply a constructive approach to issues relating to investments in the TAPI.

"We are sure that all issues can be resolved in a spirit of mutual compromise and the division of costs and profits," he said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in turn, said that the TAPI is not just a pipeline project connecting the energy-rich Central Asia to the South Asia, which is in the need of energy resources, but a project that paves the way for economic cooperation and integration.

"This project opens a new era in the life of millions of people, making TAPI a symbol of shared prosperity and socio-economic development," said Sharif.

It was previously reported that the construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI pipeline will take 3 years.

It is planned that the total length of the TAPI pipeline will be 1,814 kilometers, including 214 kilometers in Turkmenistan. The pipeline will run from Galkynysh field in Turkmenistan, which is the second largest gas field in the world up to Fazilka settlement on the border of Pakistan and India.

The annual capacity of the gas pipeline will be 33 billion cubic meters. The gas pipeline is to stretch from the largest Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan. The estimated cost of the project will be up to $10 billion.

The basic document for the promotion of TAPI is the Ashgabat interstate agreement signed between the participating states in 2010 on starting the practical implementation of this project Turkmengaz State Concern, Afghan Gas Corporation, Pakistan's "Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited" and Indian "GAIL (India) Limited" established TAPI Ltd. consortium in November 2014. It will be engaged in construction and subsequent operation of the TAPI gas pipeline. Turkmenistan's Turkmengaz state concern was selected the consortium's leader.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova

Tags:
Latest

Latest