ISLAMABAD - The change of regime in Afghanistan will not affect the execution/timelines of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line as Taliban are fully supportive of the projects.
This was told by a high level delegation of Turkmenistan led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev in a meeting with the Pakistani delegation led by Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar here Monday. It was informed that meeting of technical working group on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline will be held today (Tuesday) to propose the future roadmap given the changed dynamics of the project.
Both sides discussed various aspects of the flagship Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline as well as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line. The meeting was told that Taliban are supportive of both the gas and power projects, official source told the scribe. It is worth mentioning here that in mid January a Taliban delegation visited Turkmenistan to discuss TAPI, TAP transmission line and trade with Turkmen counterparts. Earlier, back in November, Turkmenistan foreign minister Rashid Meredov visited Kabul and discussed TAPI with Taliban authorities.
TAPI gas pipeline project aims to bring natural gas from the Gylkynish and adjacent gas fields in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The ADB is acting as the facilitator and coordinator for the project. It is proposed to lay a 56-inch diameter 1,680 KM pipeline with design capacity of 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per annum (Bcfd) from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan up to Pak-India border. There are two phases of this project. The first phase is free flow phase with estimated cost of $5 to 6 billion, while second phase is installation of compressor stations with the cost of $ 1.9 to 2 billion. TAPI Pipeline Company Limited is planning to start the construction of the Afghan section of TAPI during current year. Similarly Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power 500 kilovolt transmission line is power project connecting Turkmenistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
During the meeting, Minister Hammad Azhar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to TAPI project and stressed the need to expedite the project. The same devotion to the multi-lateral project was expressed from Turkmenistan’s side. The energy minister further expressed the resolve of the government of Pakistan for early completion of the TAPI project on account of Pakistan’s need for additional supplies of natural gas. He requested the Turkmenistan side to take all steps for early completion of the project.
Pakistan agreed to hold the meeting of the technical working group on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line in a week that will work around the pre-feasibility parameters of the project. It was decided that meeting of technical working group on TAPI will be held today to propose the future roadmap given the changed dynamics of the project.
The Turkmenistan’s delegation also included chairman of the Board and CEO TAPI Pipeline Company Limited Muhammetmyrat Amanov; Head of the Department of International Power Projects in the direction of Turkmenistan –Afghanistan-Pakistan, Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan M. Artykov; Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atadjan Movlamov; Chairman of the concern Turkmen energogurlushyk N. Atayev; as well as representatives of the project company - Calik Holding.
Pakistan’s delegation included Secretary Power Division Syed Asif Haider Shah, Secretary Petroleum Division Ali Raza Bhutta and senior officials of the Ministry of Energy.