TAPI inspires China to launch a similar pipeline project

[Kabira]

LAHORE: China has formally approached the Pakistani authorities and submitted a proposal for a China-Turkmenistan pipeline that is to cross several Central Asian mountain ranges.

“It would be cheaper and easier for China to build one from Pakistan’s territory to cross the Karakoram range to its western border,” said the Managing Director of Inter State Gas Systems (ISGS) Mobin Saulat explained while talking to Dawn on Monday.

“Since the Chinese government has contacted us just recently, their case/proposal has been shared with Turkmenistan where it is currently passing through an evaluation process,” he added.

Pakistan is likely to sign the host country agreement before the mid of next month or in January 2019, to allow formally the laying and passing of the TAPI gas pipeline through its territory and facilitating India to connect it near the Fazilka district.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to inaugurate the 780km-long portion of the TAPI project, Dawn has learnt.

“A high profile delegation from Turkmenistan plans to visit Islamabad by the end of November. But, due to various engagements, we want it to visit during the next month’s first week,” said Managing Director Inter State Gas Systems (ISGS) Mobin Saulat explained while talking to Dawnon Monday.

Pakistan will play as the host country in this agreement with Turkmenistan over giving of transit rights for laying the pipeline, facilitating India to connect it in its territory with its origin point-Fazilka district — near Multan (Pakistan’s territory where our portion of the pipeline ends.

The 1,800km-long pipeline, which begins from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, passes through Herat and Kandahar in Afghanistan, moves through Pakistan via Quetta and Multan and concludes at Fazilka in India.

The signing ceremony has been delayed since December 2017. Though the outgoing PML-N led government once planned to sign the agreement and get the civil work launched during May, it couldn’t do so after the quarters concerned left the same on interim or next elected government.

“Besides signing agreement, the delegation would also hold meetings with the top government officials concerned. It would also seek time from the premier for opening of the civil work on our portion of TAPI. Thus, we are expecting that the PM will inaugurate the civil works of this landmark project whenever it takes place,” Saulat maintained.

He added that Pakistan has completed the entire preparatory works (survey, mapping, soil tests, land acquisition etc) required ahead of launching the civil work for laying the pipeline.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018
https://www.dawn.com/news/1446694/tapi-inspires-china-to-launch-a-similar-pipeline-project

 

[Kabira]

“It would be cheaper and easier for China to build one from Pakistan’s territory to cross the Karakoram range to its western border,”

How? Maybe China will use existing pipeline route connecting it with Multan. Otherwise it will be safer for China to just get it through Tajikistan. Lets see.

 

[farok84]

China is proposing to build it's own version, lets dub it as TAPC. It's just in preliminary talks but is an excellent news nonetheless. The terrain will make it challenging but nothing that China can't overcome. China backed out of the pipeline projects through Karakorum mountain in 2008, they renewed their interest in 2014 and have now come up with a viable engineering solution, with this proposal. The route might be Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan -Tajikistan -Wakhan corridor - Pakistan - China by traversing Karakorum mountains, the transmission charges will be an interesting factor to keep an eye on. This will also open doors to Gawader - Kashgar pipeline(s), making their prospects brighter and economical.

This article is an interesting read;

"Tajik officials have been bargaining hard with their Chinese partners to ensure the pipeline route follows the exact path of their choosing. Tajikistan’s mountainous terrain poses considerable difficulties for the construction of pipelines, since pumping gas along upward inclines requires challenging and costly technical solutions. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Tajik officials have insisted on the technically more onerous route."

https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-resumes-building-turkmenistan-china-pipeline

Maybe, China plans to dump Tajikistan altogether and build it through Afghanistan (the route in this case can be Turkmenistan - Northern Afghanistan - Pakistan uphill to China) - this might just bring not only economical stability to Afghanistan but also some peace. Interestingly, a pipeline was deemed the major catalyst for Afghanistan war, the other might just bring peace to it.

From Pakistan's perspective, this initiative should be welcomed and pursued aggressively - even if we have to do some undue concessions (with transmission charges), but once a pipeline is built through Karakorum, others will follow sooner than later.

@Kabira

 

[ALi Rizwan]

How? Maybe China will use existing pipeline route connecting it with Multan. Otherwise it will be safer for China to just get it through Tajikistan. Lets see.

And who will guard the pipeline in Afghanistan?
Unless a deal is made in Afghanistan this project is waste of time and resources.

 

[Kompromat]

Pipelinestan?

 

[MBT 3000]

will pakistan have control over the pipelines in its territory?

 

[Abdussamad]

And who will guard the pipeline in Afghanistan?
Unless a deal is made in Afghanistan this project is waste of time and resources.

Who will guard the pipeline in Pakistan! It's going through quetta. The insurgents there will blow it up every friday and twice on public holidays!

 

[ALi Rizwan]

Who will guard the pipeline in Pakistan! It's going through quetta. The insurgents there will blow it up every friday and twice on public holidays!

Sir, you are comparing apple with orange.
Attack is not that common but yes it do happen.
Second we are in control and can increase security further if need arise.
But half of Afghanistan is not in control of Govt. & many area which falls to taliban every now and then.
Even if you address taliban issue who will address ISIS, TTP and other groups who enjoys safe haven in Afghanistan.

 

[-BAJWA-]

will pakistan have control over the pipelines in its territory?

Obsessively. Every territory will have control valve system to shut down the line in case of any emergency.

 

[maximuswarrior]

Much more viable. Ditch the American pipedream TAPI.

Let's make every darn effort to make this pipeline a success.