India Reiterates Commitment to TAPI Pipeline

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday said India is fully committed to implement the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project by August 2017, IANS reported.

"India is deficient in energy resources whereas Turkmenistan is rich in hydrocarbon resources. Our common endeavour should be to build enduring ties between our two friendly countries based on a long-term energy partnership," Mukherjee said when Rashid Meredov, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Turkmenistan, called on him.

State-run gas firm GAIL last year signed a gas purchase agreement with Turkmenistan's national oil firm for supplies through a transnational pipeline.The 1,680-km pipeline will have a capacity to carry 90 million cubic metres a day (mcmd) gas for a 30-year period and will be operational in 2018.

"This project is mutually beneficial for economic reasons. It is also important for bringing peace and development to our common region," said Mukherjee.