Afghanistan begins practical work on TAPI gas pipeline

KABUL (Pajhwok): Practical work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project officially commenced during a special ceremony in Herat province on Wednesday.

Alongside TAPI, work also began on fiber optic cables, a new railroad and the Noor-ul-Jihad Substation (a Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan) electricity project.

The TAPI project, which traverses 1,800 kilometers, including 816 kilometers in Afghanistan, was previously launched in Afghanistan in 2016, but practical work was yet to start.

A 214-kilometer section in Turkmenistan is complete, and today marks the beginning of the pipeline’s extension into Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), expressed pleasure iver Afghans witnessing the realisation of a dream 30 years in the making.

He commented the mega gas pipeline project signified prosperity and economic development for Afghanistan and the region at large.

The first phase of the project will bring gas to Herat. The second phase will extend from Herat to Helmand province, where a user center will be established.

In the third phase, the scheme will reach Kandahar province, before the pipeline stretched to Pakistan and India, benefiting the entire region economically.

Mujahid hoped the project’s additional components, including the optical fiber cable, would enhance Afghanistan’s internet connectivity and telecommunications.

The railway project will facilitate regional connectivity, linking Turkmenistan to Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar.

Additionally, a semi-paved road associated with the TAPI project will serve both as a construction route and a regional connectivity source, benefiting Afghans and providing an efficient land route.

Mujahid expressed joy at the project’s launch and its potential to create thousands of jobs.

He thanked Turkmenistan for its bold step and hoped for continued strong relations between the two countries.

Mujahid also highlighted the importance of the Noor-ul-Jihad substation, hoping it would facilitate the transmission of electricity from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan.

This substation, now operational, will help in supplying electricity to Herat’s industrial park and other areas.

The TAP project is expected to transmit 1,000 megawatts of electricity from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan, generating $100 million annually for the country in electricity transit.

The project agreement was signed in Ashgabat in 2015 between the leaders of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan.

sa/mud