Delhi discusses TAPI gas pipeline funding

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan.24 / Trend H. Hasanov / Negotiations between top managers in the Pakistani and Indian energy sector on the project to build the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline will today start in Delhi, Pakistani media outlets reported on Tuesday. The agenda will include issues on transit payment and security of the project. The design capacity is about 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Buyers are gas companies in Pakistan and India. The basic document to advance TAPI is an inter-state agreement to start TAPI's implementation signed in Ashgabat in December 2010. Instability in transit Afghanistan remains a serious obstacle, but Kabul says it can ensure the safety of the route. The Asian Development Bank actively promotes this project, funding the preparation of its feasibility study. The source of raw materials in addition to the Dovletabad field will be the Southern Yoloten Osman field. The length of the pipeline may hit 1,735 km. Ashgabat recently stated that a principle agreement was reached with Pakistan on the cost of Turkmen gas and an agreement will be signed soon. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az