TAPI gas pipeline project inked

[Pak123]

ASHGABAT: Pakistan on Saturday joined Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and India in signing the long-awaited over $7.6 billion dollars gas pipeline project to help it meet its sharply rising industrial and domestic demands.

The "inter-governmental agreement" (IGA) and the "Gas sales and purchase agreement" (GSPA) were signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Indian Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and President of the Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda here at a local hotel, almost 15 years after the project was envisioned. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not attend the summit as he was away to attend the India-EU summit at Brussels.

The 1,640 km long Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline backed by the Asian Development Bank will bring 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (bcfd) from Turkmenistan's gas fields to Multan in Central Pakistan and end in the northwestern Indian town of Fazilka.

Construction of the pipeline is likely to commence soon and will be completed by 2013-14. The project would help overcome Pakistan's growing energy crisis that has caused electricity shortages and protests across the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari in a statement to the media said gas connectivity through the project would add to regional prosperity by increasing synergies of economies, and will reinforce the institutional framework for expanding cooperation with each other.

He assured complete security and full support to the multi-billion dollar gas pipeline project and said it would change the development paradigm of the entire region.

TAPI gas pipeline project inked - GEO.tv

 

[roadrunner]

Oh, so the pipeline is beginning.

 

[Gabbar]

India joins $10bn gas pipeline project


NEW DELHI: India on Saturday put its stamp on an energy lifeline that could redefine regional ties and wheel in new economic dynamics through a natural gas pipeline all the way from Turkmenistan in Central Asia to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Oil minister Murli Deora, representing PM Manmohan Singh who is away in Europe, joined presidents of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan at a summit in Turkman capital Ashgabat to sign the Inter-Governmental Agreement to formally join the US-backed project that could cost over $10 billion.

Deora also utilized the presence of top Pakistani and Afghan leaders to remind that they need to address India's concerns over physical security of the pipeline and uninterrupted gas supplies to make the project work.

"There are issues that need to be addressed. We have to come to a decision regarding the price of gas, security of the pipeline, certainty of gas supply, transit fee and setting up of the consortium (for laying and operating the pipeline)," he told the summit.

For good measure Deora added, "As a buyer, and being at the tail-end of the project, we have concerns that relate to the realities that surround us. Quite obviously, our goal is not merely the construction of the pipeline, but also continuous and uninterrupted flow of Turkman natural gas over several decades." India has agreed to accept gas at the Turkman-Afghanistan border and will bank on the international composition of the consortium building the pipeline to ensure supply security through Afghanistan and Pakistan.

MEA officials attribute this to India's commitment to the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. But there is no denying that the softer security stand is being taken in deference to the US backing for the project, which Washington wants as an alternative route for Central Asian gas bypassing the Russian pipelines network. For, in case of the Iran pipeline project, which is cheaper and easier to build, India has been playing hardball over similar issues and insisting Teheran delivers gas at Delhi's doorstep. India also appears to be playing along Turkmenistan's unwillingness to make up for any shortfall or disruption in gas supplies.

Read more: India joins $10bn gas pipeline project - The Times of India India joins $10bn gas pipeline project - The Times of India

 

[cybertron]

alas...atlast

 

[Tin Man]

Manmohan singh was not present in the deal making process, whereas the other heads of state showed up. Now why was that?

 

[WAR-rior]

Manmohan singh was not present in the deal making process, whereas the other heads of state showed up. Now why was that?

bade kehte hain.....pehle poora padho fir sawaal uthao !