Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Oct. 30 / Trend H. Hasanov /
In his letter to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee stressed the mutual benefit of fruitful cooperation in the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project (TAPI).
The message is timed to the 21st anniversary of Turkmen independence.
"I am pleased to stress our fruitful cooperation in the implementation of the TAPI project, designed to ensure the energy security of our countries, and highlight India's desire to further intensify mutually beneficial relations with Turkmenistan," the letter said.
"I am honored to convey the best wishes of the government and Indian people to you and Turkmen people on the occasion of 21st anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence, which has achieved high results in economic development under your leadership," the Indian leader said.
The Turkmen side conducted several international road shows for TAPI in September with the participation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It was reported that Chevron, Exxon Mobil, BP, BG Group, RWE, Petronas and other companies became familiarised with the main terms of the project implementation and expressed an intention to participate in it.
TAPI aims at ensuring the long term supplies of over 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas to South-East Asia annually. The start of the project was signed in Ashgabat in late 2010.
In May 2012 Turkmenistan signed a memorandum of understanding with Transit Afghanistan on TAPI. Contracts on the sale of Turkmen gas were also signed with the State Gas Systems of Pakistan and Indian GAIL Ltd.
ADB has been acting as the secretariat in the TAPI project. It previously reported that after more than 20 years of complex negotiations, an 1800-kilometre gas pipeline which will connect one of the largest energy suppliers of Central Asia - Turkmenistan with a market in South Asia was one step closer to reality. This testifies an unprecedented new sphere in regional relations.