Afghanistan has finalized a roadmap for the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line project and plans to present it to the Turkmen side in the near future, according to Ariana News.
The announcement came from Abdul Bari Omar, CEO of Afghanistan’s national energy company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), following talks with a Turkmen delegation.
The two sides reviewed progress on the TAP power line project and outlined future steps. Omar briefed the Turkmen representatives on Afghanistan’s strategic plans to generate electricity using natural gas that will be supplied via the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) pipeline. He particularly stressed the urgency of finalizing negotiations on gas tariff arrangements for future supplies.
In October 2025, with the participation of Turkmenistan’s National Leader, construction began on a new 153-kilometer segment of the TAPI pipeline from Serhetabat to Herat in Afghanistan’s Herat province.
Meanwhile, TOLOnews reports significant advances, citing officials who say groundwork has been completed on 87 kilometers of the 153-kilometer route leading to the center of Herat—more than half of the initial phase.
Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat described TAPI as a significant step toward the country’s self-reliance and effective use of Afghanistan’s strategic transit location.
“The first phase is reaching Herat, and from there it extends to other areas like Kandahar, then through Pakistan to India. While the rest concerns other countries, we are committed to completing the Afghan section as quickly as possible,” Fitrat emphasized.
Political analyst Abdulhaq Hemad noted the project’s momentum: “Only about 66 kilometers remain to reach Herat, meaning we are close to the city benefiting from the gas. Afghanistan can use between 500 million to 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually.”
Economic observers view TAPI as more than just an energy initiative. They highlight its broader importance in positioning Afghanistan as a key transit corridor for regional energy trade.
The overall TAPI pipeline spans 1,821 kilometers. The 214-kilometer section within Turkmenistan has already been completed.
The next phase covers an 816-kilometer stretch across Afghanistan, passing through the provinces of Herat, Farah, Nimroz, Helmand, and Kandahar. The Serhetabat–Herat segment marks the first construction stage on Afghan soil.
Once operational, the TAPI pipeline will deliver Turkmen natural gas capable of powering electricity for more than 500 industrial enterprises in Herat province alone.