Economic Times: Pakistan, Turkmenistan Accelerate TAPI Gas Pipeline Preparations

The construction of a $10 billion gas pipeline stretching from Central to South Asia is set to begin in December, Pakistani officials said today after meeting with a delegation from Turkmenistan 

Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India have long planned the ambitious project to meet growing energy needs in the three South Asian countries but administrative issues and unrest in Afghanistan have so far delayed its realisation. 

The Turkmen authorities however on Monday told Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that ground on the pipeline -- dubbed TAPI -- would be broken this year. 

"The ground breaking ceremony of the TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India) gas pipeline project will be held in December this year," a government statement said.  MORE