Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 24
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
Turkmen gas supplied via Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline may reach Pakistan during 2019, Muhammetmurad Amanov, Chief Executive Officer of TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd Consortium said at the International Gas Congress in Avaza.
A separate round table dedicated to the implementation of this large-scale project is held within the framework of the forum May 23. The potential costs of the TAPI project range from $7 billion to $10 billion.
The construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI gas pipeline with a length of more than 200 kilometers was launched in December 2015. Survey work is being carried out at the Pakistani section at this stage. Construction contracts are being prepared in Afghanistan.
Being the leader of the international consortium TAPI Pipeline Company Limited, the State Concern "Turkmengas" - having a controlling stake - performs the functions of the main financier and manager of the project. The consortium also includes the Afghan Gas Corporation, Pakistan’s Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited Company and India’s GAIL Company.
The consortium continues active negotiations with all interested parties with the participation of the Asian Development Bank. Various options for participation in the project are being explored, such as participation in the company's share, project financing, financing through international development banks and through export credit agencies from around the world.
The total length of the pipeline, with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be 1840 kilometers till the village of Fazilka on the border with India.
The TAPI gas pipeline will export fuel from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, the second largest in the world.