Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 24
By Huseyn Hasanov– Trend:
The presidents of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mohammad Ashraf Ghani discussed implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline construction project during the meeting in Tashkent, the Turkmen government said in a message.
The meeting was held within the framework of the session of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) June 23-24. Turkmenistan participates in this forum as a guest of honor.
It was noted at the meeting that the TAPI transnational energy main line, the work on laying of which started in December 2015, in addition to its functional purpose, will also become a bridge of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in the region and at the same time a real contribution to ensuring global energy security.
The annual capacity of the pipeline will be 33 billion cubic meters. The pipeline, including supporting ground infrastructure, is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2019. The implementation of this large scale project will create over 12,000 jobs.
The message said that the Afghan side also expressed interest in purchasing Turkmen oil and gas products.
The transport and communication sector, in particular the project on construction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan (TAT) railway, was mentioned among the important vectors of cooperation.
Berdimuhamedov said that until late 2016, it is planned to commission a section of this railway connecting Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, namely, its structural unit Atamyrat-Ymamnazar-Akin.
The parties noted that there are prospects for expansion of contacts in agriculture, animal husbandry and food industry.