Herat Province to Host Seminar to Discuss TAPI Related Issues

Afghanistan’s Herat province will host a seminar on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project in May.

The announcement was made during a meeting attended by deputy foreign minister of Turkmenistan, Herat province governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi, officials from the oil ministry and tribal leaders from Herat and Farah provinces, Wadsam, an Afghan news portal, reported Thursday.

Rahimi said the gas project was vital for Afghanistan’s economic development and advocated for early execution of the project.

Recently, the four TAPI nations signed initial investment agreement regarding the multi-billion dollar gas pipeline project. The much delayed TAPI gas pipeline project was formally inaugurated on December 13.

TurkmenGaz will be the leader of the consortium and shall take 85 percent equity. Along with GAIL India, ISGS of Pakistan and Afghan Gas Enterprise (AGE) will also take 5 percent stake each. The TAPI pipeline will have a capacity to carry 90 million standard cubic metres a day (mmscmd) gas for 30 years and is planned to become operational in 2018.

The pipeline is expected to generate annual revenue of $400 million for Kabul, Wadsam said, adding that it will provide an alternative energy source for Afghanistan, which is currently depending on Iran for fuel. Meanwhile many experts believe security of the project is a major concern, especially in Afghanistan. Earlier this year, members of Helmand provincial council said that the volatile situation in the province could pose a major threat to the implementation of the project. However, Daud Shah Saba, Afghan oil minister, told Upper House in Kabul in December that a 7,000-member security force will be raised to guard the gas pipeline project.