Groundbreaking ceremony for TAPI pipeline project soon

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan’s incoming government will soon perform the groundbreaking ceremony for a four-nation gas pipeline project.

Turkmenistan and Afghanistan have already performed such ceremonies for the $10 billion project. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government will do so in near future.

The 1,800 kilometres Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline will feed three energy-starved Afghanistan, Pakistan and India for 30 years.

Officials say the pipeline will supply up to 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas a year from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India for three decades.

Pakistan and India will receive 42 per cent share each, with 16 per cent going to Afghanistan, The News quoted an unnamed official as saying.

The targeted timeline of project implementation was 2021, but, under an alternative plan, the participating countries would be able to complete it in 2020.

Turkmenistan will contribute 85pc of the pipeline cost estimated at $10 billion. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India will have a 5pc equity share each in investments.

The cost is in addition to $15 billion capital injection required for developing a gas field from where Turkmenistan will supply gas to the three countries.

mud