After discussion of years by parties, with the initiatives of Turkmenistan`s President the project has been started to give hope the possibility to see brighter days.
TAPI pipeline`s capacity has increased to carry 33 bcm gas for a 30 year, 14 bcm of gas will be supplied to India and Pakistan each, while the remaining 5 bcm will be supplied to Afghanistan. The implementation of the project will be realized in two steps, at first step it would supply 5-6 bcm natural gas per annum, and in second step gas compressor stations will be implemented at several points to boost its full capacity of 33 bcm natural gas per year[1]. The project would provide 12000 employments for Afghan people with 1 billion USD transit tax for Afghanistan’s state budget[2]. During his official visit to Turkmenistan in February 2019, Afghanistan`s President Ashraf Ghani said that TAPI would enable operation of non-working factories of Afghanistan due to lack of energy supply[3]. This will also serve to promote further economic growth in the countries where pipelines run, to assist in the resolution of issues of providing people with light and heat, development of production and social infrastructure, job creation which will, ultimately, positively affect the overall political climate within and beyond the region[4]. The pipeline would supply gas to Afghanistan that would boost Afghanistan`s economy.
At the 22nd meeting of the TAPI Management Committee the members of which are the ministers of the oil and gas branch of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, the Turkmengas State Concern was elected the Consortium leader of the TAPI Limited Pipeline Company. As the Consortium leader “Turkmengas” will coordinate the interaction of the construction, financing, processing and exploitation of the TAPI pipeline[5]. TAPI project was also supported by large financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank. All important commercial and judicial documents forming a basis for starting a particular realization of the TAPI projects agreed and signed thanks to the efforts of the countries project participants[6]. Turkmenistan also making overtures, to attract Japanese investment to TAPI pipeline project[7]. Saudi Arabia`s Development Fund provided credit for the finance of the pipeline[8]. Turkmenistan invited Russian companies to involve in the project. The Russian ChTPZ group (Chelyabinsk Pipe Rolling Plant) won the tender for the supply of pipes for the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline. The deal was 219 million USD. The procurement of the pipelines was financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB)[9]. Until the end of December 2019, all the pipelines were supplied to Turkmenistan. More countries participation in the Project would make it more internationally supported project.
February 23, 2018, in Serhetabad district of Mary province of Turkmenistan and the Afghan city Herat with the participation of leaders and ministers of the participating countries construction of Afghan part of 800 km of the project was kicked off.
The most important thing is that the TAPI gas pipeline will promote the support and strengthening of the political and social stability in the entire region[10] and boost Afghanistan`s economy. Once it called “Dream Pipeline” now it is being realized and turning into “Real Pipeline” and “Peace Pipeline” as it is often referred by some experts. More, countries have taken part in the project, making it one of the most internationally supported projects.
Amanberdi BEGJANOW
References
[1] Atavatan Turkmenistan (2019), ” Türkmenistana 18,6 milliard dollar maýa goýum”, Accessed 3 August 2019, URL: https://www.atavatan-turkmenistan.com/tu/news_details.php?news_id=MzYyOA==
[2] Atavatan (2019), Türkmen-Afgan Ortak Basın Açıklaması, Accessed on 6 November 2019, URL: https://www.atavatan-turkmenistan.com/tu/news_details.php?news_id=MjczNg==
[3] Atavatan (2019), Türkmen-Afgan Ortak Basın Açıklaması, Accessed on 6 November 2019, URL: https://www.atavatan-turkmenistan.com/tu/news_details.php?news_id=MjczNg==
*[4] Berdimuhamedow, G (2011), Parahatcylyk Dörejilik Progressyyasynyn Dabaralanmagy, Asgabat, Türkmen Döwlet Neşıryat gullugy. pp- 18
*[5] Berdimuhamedov, G (2015), Neutral Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Turkmen State Publishing Service. pp-51
*[6] Berdimuhamedov, G (2015), Neutral Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Turkmen State Publishing Service. pp-50-51
[7] Altyn Asyr Channel (2019), Watan Habarlar Gullygy, 24.03.2019
[8] Atavatan Turkmenistan (2020), “Suudi Kalkınma Fonu TAPI projesini finanse etmek için kredi sağlayacak “, Accessed 13 January 2020, URL: https://www.atavatan-turkmenistan.com/tu/news_details.php?news_id=NTAxMw==
[9] Turkiye Cumhuriyeti Ticaret Bakanligi (2019), “Rus şirket, Türkmenistan’a TAPI doğalgaz boru hattı için boru tedarik edecek”, Accessed on 28 December 2019, URL: https://ticaret.gov.tr/blog/ulkelerden-ticari-haberler/turkmenistan/rus-sirket-turkmenistana-tapi-dogalgaz-boru-hatti-icin-boru-tedarik-edecek
*[10] Berdimuhamedov, G (2015), Neutral Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Turkmen State Publishing Service. pp-51