Review of Tapi gas pipeline project.

Byline: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project is one in every of the long-term gas pipeline development project for Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. TAPI which is additionally called as peace project, is the foremost important gas pipeline projects by connecting Turkmenistan with Southern Asian countries so as to have interaction them by mutual cooperation. The TAPI gas pipeline from Caspian Sea, by having an 1814 km of its route line from Galkynysh gas-field, Turkmenistan runs through Afghanistan's Herat, Kandahar, Farah and Helmand provinces to Quetta, Balochistan and Multan through Pakistan to Fazilka district in Punjab, India.

TAPI gas pipeline project, which expected constructing cost is $10 billion is anticipated to supply 33BCMs yearly. The studies identified that Afghanistan would attain 5-5.1 BCMs or 16 percent and Pakistan and India will independently receive 13.8-16 BCMs or 42 percent of the total amount yearly. From total 1814 km lengthy route, 772 km would go inside Afghanistan and 828 km will be passed through Pakistan.

Studies also identified that TAPI gas pipeline project was progressing as per the timelines accepted among the member countries and there is no delay in the project. The planned flow of non-compressed gas from the TAPI gas pipeline project is December 2023. Pakistan was in process of renegotiating gas price with TAPI Project Company Limited (TPCL), following which a ceremony would be held for 'Pakistan-Section' of the multi-billion dollar trans-country gas pipeline in Chaman. Pakistan is keen to possess a brand new compatible gas price under TAP) project. Accordingly, renegotiation for the gas price will turn up with the TPCL before groundbreaking of the pipeline in Pakistan.

It is also important to mention here Turkmenistan, which has the fourth largest natural gas reserves globally, is opening up to new countries in a quest for further gas exports. Since Russia first reduced and later halted altogether its gas imports from Turkmenistan, China has become the main destination for Turkmen exports, and these are probable to raise more when the fourth line of the Central Asia-China Pipeline becomes operational. Turkmenistan is also spearheading the TAPI pipeline project, a main step towards export diversification and also regional integration.

Sources recorded that Pakistan would complete Phase-I of the project within a period of 30-month...