EU Special Representative: TAPI pipeline can bring changes not only in Afghanistan

Kazakhstan, Astana, Nov.15 / Trend K. Konirova/

The Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan-India Pipeline (TAPI) could be the beginning of positive changes not only in Afghanistan, but also in the Central Asian region, EU Special Representative in Afghanistan Vygaudas Usackas told Trend in an interview.

"Projects such as the TAPI are a great incentive for potential changes in the entire Central Asian region. It will open not only new working places, but also bring changes in dynamics of relations among the neighboring countries," Mr. Usackas said on the sidelines of the 12th meeting of International Contact Group on Afghanistan running in Astana

"TAPI is the first concrete step in this direction," he added.

TAPI project is actively promoting by the Asian Development Bank that funding the training of its technical and economic feasibility. The basic document for the promotion of TAPI is the inter-state agreement on the start of TAPI, signed in Ashgabat on a high level in December 2010.

At this stage, the parties involved in the project hold negotiations on the security of transit, settle the question of funding.

The length of TAPI can hit more than 1,700 km, its design capacity - 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, the cost is estimated at $7-8 billion.

The source of raw materials in addition to the Dovletabad field will be Yoloten field - one of the world's super-giants with the resources of 21.2 trillion cubic meters of gas.

He said today Astana mulls not only the issue of creating own security forces and police in Afghanistan , but also the issue of creating a favorable business climate to attract investment.