Pakistan Expects Work on TAPI Project to Start Later This Year

Work on TAPI gas pipeline project could begin by end of this year, Sartaj Aziz, advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj said Sunday.

A leading financing agency had agreed to provide finance for the project and the issue of pricing will be finalised very soon, Sartaj told the media after inaugurating a conference, “Turkmenistan’s policy of Permanent Neutrality” in Islamabad, reported Pakistan’s Daily Times newspaper.

Sartaj added that the project has been delayed due to security situation in Afghanistan but now Kabul has ensured the safety and security of the project, the newspaper said.

Last week, Indian petroleum minister announced that negotiation related to TAPI natural gas pipeline is at the final stage.

The TAPI pipeline will export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India over 30 years. 

Last year, gas companies of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India established a company that will build, own and operate the planned 1,800-kilometer TAPI natural gas pipeline.