Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, July 9
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
The ceremony of launching the construction of the Pakistani section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is planned to be held in October 2019 in the town of Chaman in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province, Trend reports referring to Turkmengas State Concern, which in turn refers to sources in Islamabad.
Until then, experts from Turkmenistan and Pakistan will hold next talks on the TAPI project in August.
Host Government Agreement (HGA) was signed in Islamabad, which encompasses the main terms of an agreement with Pakistan on the TAPI gas pipeline construction project.
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.
It was reported earlier that the cost of Turkmen pipeline gas to be supplied to Pakistan will be significantly lower compared to the price of liquefied gas imported from other countries.
The Turkmengas State Concern is the leader of the TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd. international consortium. It has a controlling stake and acts as 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.
Construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI was launched in December 2015, and that of the Afghan section in February 2018.
The total length of the pipeline, with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be 1,840 kilometers. 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.