Start of construction on TAPI nears
India 
ASHGABAT, November 20, 2014 – Last week, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline steering committee gathered the petroleum ministers of the participating countries in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat. It set itself a three-month deadline for the resolution of outstanding issues, such as finding a international company to head a consortium in charge of operating the pipeline, which remains on the drawing board.
The 1,800-kilometre TAPI natural gas pipeline, once operational, is to export up to 90 mcm (3.2 bcf) of natural gas per day from Turkmenistan for the duration of 30 years. A statement released by the committee said “steps will be taken to start the project by 2015.”
The announcement comes a week after the Gas Authority of India, the Afghan Gas Enterprise, Turkmengas and Inter State Gas Systems established a special purpose vehicle to build, own and operate the $10-billion pipeline. Last month, the Asian Development Bank, the project’s transaction advisor, awarded the feasibility study contract to UK engineering company Penspen.
The steering committee will reconvene in Islamabad in February 2015.
Read our latest insights on:
More content from India
Latest news and features
