Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline

Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline

The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP or TAPI) is a proposed natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank. The pipeline will transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India. Proponents of the project see it as a modern continuation of the Silk Road. The Afghan government is expected to receive 8% of the project's revenue.

History

The original project started in March 1995 when an inaugural memorandum of understanding between the governments of Turkmenistan and Pakistan for a pipeline project was signed. In August 1996, the Central Asia Gas Pipeline, Ltd. (CentGas) consortium for construction of a pipeline, led by Unocal was formed. On 27 October 1997, CentGas was incorporated in formal signing ceremonies in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan by several international oil companies along with the Government of Turkmenistan. In January 1998, the Taliban, selecting CentGas over Argentinian competitor Bridas Corporation, signed an agreement that allowed the proposed project to proceed. In June 1998, Russian Gazprom relinquishes its 10% stake in the project. Unocal withdrew from the consortium on 8 December 1998.

The new deal on the pipeline was signed on 27 December 2002 by the leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.cite news
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2608713.stm
title = Central Asia pipeline deal signed
author = Ian McWilliam
publisher = BBC
date = 2002-12-27
accessdate = 2008-05-18] In 2005, the Asian Development Bank submitted the final version of a feasibility study designed by British company Penspen. Since the United States military overthrew the Taliban government, the project has essentially stalled; construction of the Turkmen part was supposed to start in 2006, but the overall feasibility is questionable since the southern part of the Afghan section runs through territory which continues to be under "de facto" Taliban control.

On 24 April 2008, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan signed a framework agreement to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan.cite news
url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article153168.ece
title = Trio sign up for Turkmen gas
publisher = Upstream Online
date = 2008-04-25
accessdate = 2008-05-18]

Route

The convert|1680|km|mi pipeline will run from the Dauletabad gas field to Afghanistan. From there TAPI will be constructed alongside the highway running from Herat to Kandahar, and then via Quetta and Multan in Pakistan. The final destination of the pipeline will be the Indian town of Fazilka, near the border between Pakistan and India.

Technical features

The pipeline will be convert|1420|mm|in in diameter with a working pressure of 100 atm.cite news
url = http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntc64919.htm
title = Gas pipeline project Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India approved
publisher = Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections
date = 2006-11-21
accessdate = 2008-05-18] The initial capacity will be 27 billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas annually of which 2 bcm will be provided to Afghanistan and 12.5 bcm to both Pakistan and India. Later the capacity will increase to 33 bcm.cite news
url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200804/Talks_Over_Gas_Pipeline_Project_Kick_Off_10294.aspx
title = Talks Over Gas Pipeline Project Kick Off In Islamabad
publisher = Downstream Today
date = 2008-04-23
accessdate = 2008-05-18] Six compressor stations are to be constructed along the pipeline. The pipeline is expected to be operational by 2014.cite news
url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200804/India_Joins_Gas_Pipeline_Project_10370.aspx
title = India Joins Gas Pipeline Project
author = Deepak Joshi; Kamal Siddiqi
publisher = Downstream Today
date = 2008-04-24
accessdate = 2008-05-18]

The cost of the pipeline is estimated cost at US$7.6 billion. The project is to be financed by the Asian Development Bank.cite news
url = http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntc65139.htm
title = Work on TAPI gas pipeline to be accelerated
publisher = Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections
date = 2006-11-26
accessdate = 2008-05-18]

ee also

* Zalmay Khalilzad
* CentGas
* Transport in Afghanistan
* Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline
* Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC)
* South Caucasus Pipeline
* Afghanistan Oil Pipeline
* Enron's Dabhol Power Company

References


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