Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 13
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
A Host Government Agreement (HGA) was signed in Islamabad, which encompasses the main terms of an agreement with Pakistan on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline construction project, Trend reports March 13 with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry March 13.
The HGA was signed by Pakistani Additional Secretary In-charge of the Petroleum Division Mian Asad Hayauddin and general director, chairman of the board of TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd. Muhammetmyrat Amanov, according to Pakistani media.
Being the leader of the international consortium TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd., Turkmengas state concern, 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 Turkmen Foreign Ministry, in turn, reports that Turkmen deputy prime minister, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov took part in the signing ceremony of the HGA.
A delegation from Ashgabat was received by President of Pakistan Arif Alvi and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan.
The gas and transport and communication sectors were mentioned as priority areas for trade and economic partnership. At the same time, the head of the Pakistani government expressed strong support for the TAPI project, the construction project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line and the creation of a new transport and transit corridor from the seaports of Pakistan to the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, the report said.
Rashid Meredov held talks with other Pakistani leaders – Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs Minister Asad Umar.
Construction of TAPI was launched in December 2015, while the Afghan section in February 2018. Pakistan plans to start the work on its pipeline section this year.
The total length of the pipeline, with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be 1,840 kilometers. The fuel will be supplied from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, the second largest in the world.
The length of the Turkmen section will be 205 kilometers.
Then, this energy bridge will pass through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar (816 kilometers), through the cities of Quetta and Multan across Pakistani territory (819 kilometers), and reach the settlement of Fazilka in India.
"The gas pipeline will be brought to the Pakistani border within two years, and in the next 6-8 months, the gas route will stretch to the territory of India," CEO of TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd. Muhammetmyrat Amanov said December 2018 at a roundtable meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Amanov also said the cost of the Turkmen gas, which will be supplied to Pakistan, is significantly lower compared to the price of liquefied gas imported by Islamabad.