Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) project

[ghazi52]

I think this project should enter Guinness Book of World Records for maximum number of inaugurations.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Yes, they did but unless this project is financed by governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan I would be surprised if private capital would take the risk when the "support" comes from a group that is regarded as terrorists/insurgents in a international warzone.

I don't understand why this project is even considered when the Iran/Pak pipeline is a much better option economically. Pakistan is right next to Iran and Iran has already built its side of the pipeline. Pak should build its share and start importing gas from Iran.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

I don't understand

Neither can I. The fact is Iran is one of largest holder of gas deposits on earth. That is a veritable goldmine next door to Pakistan. Yet despite this Pakistan is afflicted by energy deficit which is ruining the economy and costing Pakistan billions in dollars/stunted growth. We know Iran has built the pipeline right to the Pakistani border only about 15 miles from Gwadar. Instead Pakistan is cavorting with Tapi when we all know the never ending war in Afghanistan and never ending hate toward and from Afghanistan. There is zero chance of building a gas, yes a gas pipeline through a place where bullets, bombs and suicide bombers roll.

So what gives? I think there are are two factors - USA would never accept a pipeline from Iran as we all know [1] America utterly detests Tehran and will do anything to hurt Iran. Ditto Israel. [2] Ditto Saudia Arabia. Between the these forces Pakistani elite is either to too scared or has been bougt out or combination of both. The result is Pakistan will continue to suffer and fail to tap into cheap, relatively clean, long term energy source.

The only hope is at some time down the road with CPEC taking off and Chinese shadow growing over the Arabian Sea region we might see Chinese brokered deal with Iran that brings in gas from Iran and possibly even China.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Neither can I. The fact is Iran is one of largest holder of gas deposits on earth. That is a veritable goldmine next door to Pakistan. Yet despite this Pakistan is afflicted by energy deficit which is ruining the economy and costing Pakistan billions in dollars/stunted growth. We know Iran has built the pipeline right to the Pakistani border only about 15 miles from Gwadar. Instead Pakistan is cavorting with Tapi when we all know the never ending war in Afghanistan and never ending hate toward and from Afghanistan. There is zero chance of building a gas, yes a gas pipeline through a place where bullets, bombs and suicide bombers roll.

So what gives? I think there are are two factors - USA would never accept a pipeline from Iran as we all know [1] America utterly detests Tehran and will do anything to hurt Iran. Ditto Israel. [2] Ditto Saudia Arabia. Between the these forces Pakistani elite is either to too scared or has been bougt out or combination of both. The result is Pakistan will continue to suffer and fail to tap into cheap, relatively clean, long term energy source.

The only hope is at some time down the road with CPEC taking off and Chinese shadow growing over the Arabian Sea region we might see Chinese brokered deal with Iran that brings in gas from Iran and possibly even China.

I know it was the US pressure holding Pakistan back from building this gas pipeline with Iran but now that those relations are pretty much out the window...Pak should go for it. At this point US has decided to prop up India against China at all costs. This and Pak's closeness with China has led to a downward spiral between US/Pak ties. The recent proposal by US to put Pak on FATF list was the final nail in the coffin that eliminated any room for considerations from Pak's side about US concern regarding this pipeline. It's time that both countries chart their own path according to what's best for them.

 

[ghazi52]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is scheduled to sign gas transportation and transit fee agreements, pipeline service rules and complete Front End Engineering Design (FEED) activities, under Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) project, during next fiscal year.

“The TAPI project activities including the signing of gas transportation agreement, pipeline service rules, transit fee agreement and completion of FEED work will be implemented during 2018-19,” official sources told APP.

In February this year, they said the TAPI project while making a tangible progress had entered Afghanistan from Turkmenistan after the latter completed construction of the gas pipeline in its section.

Answering a question, the sources said Inter State Gas Systems (Pvt) Limited (ISGSL), which is the project execution company in Pakistan, had initiated the FEED activities of the TAPI gas pipeline project’s Pakistan section in March 2017.



“Since then the company has moved diligently towards TAPI gas pipeline’s practical implementation,” they added.

The TAPI gas pipeline, first envisaged in the 1990’s had been lying in the backburner for many years but saw revitalization in the present government’s tenure, which made it a key component of the government’s National Energy Policy to import gas.

They expressed confidence that the pipeline would substantially add inexpensive, reliable and environment-friendly energy into Pakistan’s national pool and help in achieving socio-economic progress in the region.

Highlighting the importance of the project, the sources said the pipeline would help increase the power generation capacity to meet the country’s future energy needs, create more job opportunities in backward areas along the pipeline route and further strengthen the national economy.

Under the project, a 56-inch diameter 1,680km pipeline, having the capacity to flow 3.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) gas, would be laid from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan up to Pak-India border, which is scheduled to complete in the year 2020.

Through the pipeline, funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pakistan and India would be provided 1.325 bcfd gas each and Afghanistan would get 0.5 bcfd gas.

Meanwhile, sources informed that in Pakistan, the financial close of the TAPI gas pipeline was expected to be achieved this year, following which construction work would start on this multi-billion dollars project.

“The construction work on the project will start after the completion of technical studies and achieving the financial close, which is expected to be completed during this year,” they said.

They said TAPI Pipeline Company Limited (TPCL), the project executing company, had been jointly formed by the four TAPI parties, which appointed the consultant to undertake the pre-FID activities including the detailed survey of the entire route, environment impact assessment studies and FEED.

The sources informed that the procurement process for lines pipe, long lead items and appointment of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor had been started. While the company has appointed a legal counsel for rendering legal services on the agreements to be executed by the company, they added