TAPI
Gas Pipeline
In one of the most important and
buzzing region, the TAPI Gas pipeline is on the process of being laid.
Officially known as the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline
(TAPI), it is being developed by the Asian Development Bank. This pipeline will
natural gas from Turkmenistan to India, passing through Afghanistan and
Pakistan. Construction on the project started in Turkmenistan on 13 December
2015 and is expected to be completed by 2019.
The project is primarily expected to
serve the India’s needs for natural gas. Covering more than 1,800 kilometres,
the annual capacity of this project is 32 billion cubic metres of natural gas.
It is expected to cost US$7.6 billion. The project though faces environmental
and financial challenges.
“Project
security remains a concern after the 2014 withdrawal of US forces from
Afghanistan. Transaction advisor‑Asian Development Bank is building‑a
consortium that would build and‑operate the‑line.” (KPMG)
