The TAPI Gas Pipeline Project

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FILE PHOTO: Workers stand near a gas pipe during the launching ceremony of construction work of the TAPI project on the Afghan section of a natural gas pipeline that will link Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, near the town of Serhetabat, Turkmenistan February 23, 2018. REUTERS/Marat Gurt

Pakistan and Turkmenistan have begun talks to revive the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project which has been stalled due to differences over price review and the delivery point.
So far, the gas delivery point of the TAPI pipeline project remained a sticking point, because of which the two countries delayed the signing of the shareholding agreement. As per the original deal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India would have a total of 15% shares, while Turkmenistan would have 85%.
In the existing gas sales purchase agreement under TAPI, the gas delivery point is the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan border but given the Afghan situation, Pakistan wanted a gas delivery point at the Pakistan-Afghan border.
The energy ministers of Pakistan and Turkmenistan agreed to start formal discussions on two projects, TAPI and the possibility of a power transmission line between the two countries, on Tuesday at the technical level.
“It was decided that a meeting of the technical working group on TAPI will be held on Tuesday (today) to propose the future roadmap given the changing dynamics of the project,” an official statement said.
In recent months, Pakistan faced a gas crisis due to its dependence on LNG imports. Now, Pakistan wants to diversify imports and the TAPI pipeline was one of them.
A high-level delegation of Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev held extensive talks with a Pakistani delegation, led by Energy Minister Hammad Azhar. They discussed various aspects of the pipeline project.
The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line also came under discussion. During the meeting, Azhar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the TAPI project and stressed the need for expediting the scheme. Turkmenistan also reiterated its commitment to the project. Pakistan’s Energy Minister also requested the Turkmenistan side to take all steps for the early completion of the project.

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