Work on TAPI pipeline to begin today: Official

ISLAMABAD: The work on the long-awaited 1,680 km Turkmenistan-afghanistanPakistan-india (TAPI) gas pipeline, which will help ease energy deficiency in South Asia, will start in Pakistan on Friday, a senior Pakistani official said on Thursday.

Leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India performed the groundbreaking of the project in December 2015.

“Officials from Turkmenistan have reached along with a high-level delegation and an inaugural ceremony will be held on Friday to start work on route survey and detailed engineering in Pakistan,” Inter State Gas Systems Managing Director Mobin Saulat was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

The daily reported that the route survey, detailed engineering and feasibility study, which will be conducted by a consultant are required to be undertaken before building the gas pipeline.

The project management consultant will first undertake the survey and study in Pakistan and then extend its scope to Afghanistan.

TAPI Company, established with the task of running the transnational gas pipeline, has awarded project management contract to German firm ILF.

“Building of the pipeline and development of gas field has begun in Turkmenistan and we appreciate its efforts to step up activities in an attempt to complete the project according to the schedule,” Saulat said.

He said that efforts aimed at achieving financial close of the project were also continuing and the pipeline would be commissioned as per schedule.

Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India have already signed a USD 10-billion investment agreement for the TAPI pipeline in a bid to kick off activities, update feasibility study and finalise pipeline route in war-torn Afghanistan.