Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 21
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov and Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif discussed the joint energy projects May 20 in Ashgabat, a source close to the talks told Trend.
The sides also discussed the topical issues related to the regional and international policy, according to the source.
The two countries pay special attention to the promising areas, especially, to the fuel and energy, trade, economic and transport spheres.
The implementation of large-scale international projects is on the agenda, Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary state news agency said, adding that the project for construction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) which is ready for the start, will be one of the most important projects among them.
"According to all involved sides, TAPI laying will not only guarantee further economic growth of the region and its social well-being, but most importantly, be a powerful factor of security and sustainable development," TDH reported.
Ashgabat believes that the TAPI construction can begin in 2015. Turkmen gas will help meet the growing energy consumption in India and Pakistan. By 2030 the need can rise twice. The remaining part will facilitate the constant shortage of energy resources in transit Afghanistan.
The next action for the TAPI four countries is to attract commercial partners for the gas pipeline construction. The project cost is estimated at $ 7-10 billion.
The design capacity of the TAPI will be up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year. A purchase-sale agreement was signed with the State Gas Systems of Pakistan in May 2012.
The basic document for TAPI promotion is Ashgabat's interstate agreement of the participating countries about the practical implementation of the project signed in late 2010.
Edited by CN