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ASHGABAT: Turkmenistan has begun work on an ambitious 1,800-kilometre-long (1,118 miles) pipeline carrying gas from the former Soviet state to energy-hungry India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, state media reported on Friday.
“Specialists of the Institute of Oil and Gas in the ‘Turkmengaz’ state corporation have started engineering and surveying work on the route for the future gas pipeline Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI),” state newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan reported, adding that the construction of the pipeline itself would begin in December.
The four countries have long planned the ambitious project to meet growing energy needs, but administrative issues and unrest in Afghanistan have so far delayed its realisation.
The four sides agreed last month that state company Turkmengaz would lead the consortium for the $10-billion project, although foreign commercial partners are also expected to participate.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said last month that Japanese and Korean companies had expressed interest in investing into TAPI and has invited Turkish companies to join the bidding process.
International energy majors Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Total had been rumoured to be interested in the project but are no longer thought to be contenders for the contract.
TAPI is expected to ship up to 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually starting in 2018, most of which will be absorbed by India and Pakistan.—AFP
Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015
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Comments (81) Closed
Sep 05, 2015 10:54am
Finally something ...to connect India and Pakistan.
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Sep 05, 2015 10:59am
Good to keep all doors open for Bharat..Diversification...First rule of investment. Time will tell which route ultimately delivers result first.
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Sep 05, 2015 11:51am
It's modi's vision and power. A project suspended for decades get started in just one visit and will supply gas from 2018.
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Sep 05, 2015 12:03pm
Good going. India should get it's gas and Turkmen should their dollars.
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Sep 05, 2015 12:33pm
Are they crazy, pipeline going through Afghanistan and Pakistan?
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Sep 05, 2015 12:50pm
@Bharatiya Oz i agree with u however.....i am highky skeptical about the security of this pipeline becoz we have non state actors in thsi region who will try and blow up this pipe.
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Sep 05, 2015 12:53pm
TAPI does not look feasible.
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Sep 05, 2015 01:04pm
I fear that because of insurgency in the Af-Pak border areas, TAPI will take a long time for completion. It is more likely that Turkmenistan gas will get to India through the Iranian port Chabahar. Incidentally, India cannot afford to wait for Tapi. Modi-Putin in the annual meeting (decreed in the Indo-Russia Treaty) in India in early 2015 agreed that the Indian Govt. owned oil company will buy 20% stake in a large Russian oil field owned by world's largest oil company Rosneft (owned by the Russian Govt.). Indian company completed the deal by paying the money a few days ago and a Joint Indo-Russia company is being set up to manage that oil field.
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Sep 05, 2015 01:04pm
@suman It was delayed because of Amerian presence in Afghanistan
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Sep 05, 2015 01:12pm
Crazy, this pipe-line passes through Pakistan . We do not need this pipe-line.
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Sep 05, 2015 01:15pm
@mimi sur
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Sep 05, 2015 01:16pm
@mimi sur Pakistan to get transit fees
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Sep 05, 2015 01:31pm
@NAJEEB BURKI US presence in Afghanistan delayed it?? can you elobrate it?
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Sep 05, 2015 01:31pm
@Kamal Pasha We the people of this region require TapI , CPEC and any development project tha can help people.
Let's think if a new beginning where we forge ahead of powersthat pull us back.
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Sep 05, 2015 01:32pm
@Sunbal
Your leaders are obviously thinking ahead of you.
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Sep 05, 2015 01:37pm
@Atam Vetta
....and then bring the Russian oil to India by air !!
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Sep 05, 2015 01:46pm
@Atam Vetta
No matter what people are saying the Indian government has probably already decided, quite wisely, that TAPI route is the best option. And this talk about Chahbahar is essentially meant to trivialise the reality and impact of CPEC which Indians are finding difficult to swallow.
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Sep 05, 2015 01:58pm
Pakistan will be connecting TAPI as well as the IP gas lines. Also, major energy development plans are in swing: nuclear power plants, hydro, wind and coal projects. Upgrade of the transport link to China. Gwadar finding her rightful place. Not to forget the massive security operations in FATA, Balochsitan and Karachi to back this all up.
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Sep 05, 2015 02:05pm
@Ibrar come out of your dreams, India has alternate options too..
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Sep 05, 2015 02:28pm
I don't know how Pakistan is allowing the
E tapi project. Pakistan should try to get India out of this project . Pak cannot trust India until the Kashmir issue is resolved
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Sep 05, 2015 03:15pm
This will not work
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Sep 05, 2015 03:38pm
Historic moment. Seriously now we need to build an all weather four lane highway linking Delhi via Lahore and Kabul to Kashgar including a high speed rail system. Common boys we can do it.
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Sep 05, 2015 03:40pm
@Sahil - Not "finally something to connect India and Pakistan". Our land, culture, people and much more do already connect. It is self-inflicted disharmony and discord!
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Sep 05, 2015 03:42pm
@niju Kashmir record is running in loop for long now , its boring and tiresome. Time to move on.
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Sep 05, 2015 03:52pm
@bryan, Everyone is interested in the progress of thisv region including me but the present political situation does not suit this project at the moment.
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Sep 05, 2015 03:52pm
Turkmengaz — Turkmenistan's national gas company — has taken a 51% stake in a consortium still seeking to build the perennially troubled TAPI gas pipeline, a serious competitor to the Iran-Pakistan one if it ever gets built.
Still it all comes back to the same problem; who wants to invest in a steel umbilical cord prone to all sorts of sabotage traversing a war zone — western Afghanistan all the way to Kandahar before going further on to Pakistan and India?
In theory, "host countries" should be responsible for TAPI's security; in the case of Afghanistan, that qualifies as black humor.
TAPI is still a pipe dream. Pakistan and India are not seriously considering it viable even in the medium term. So it's back to IP.
http://atimes.com/2015/08/pipelineistan-the-iran-pak-china-connection-escobar/
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Sep 05, 2015 04:29pm
Waste of money. Considering hostile afghan and indian governments, it will be fool to asume that Pakistan will allow the pipeline to go through its territory. This can wait till more favourable regimes are in Afghanistan and India.
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Sep 05, 2015 04:32pm
@Ibrar yes, just like the Iranian oil to India by air.
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Sep 05, 2015 04:35pm
@niju yes, Pak cannot trust India. What if India stops the gas from flowing?
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Sep 05, 2015 04:59pm
Pakistan can accomplish so much due to its location in central asia but Pakistani leaders are either too dumb or too greety.
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Sep 05, 2015 04:59pm
IP gas pipeline is 100 times more realiable, feaseable and better option
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Sep 05, 2015 05:06pm
@Kamal Pasha The world is alive because a few are optimists and are hopeful. Lets be that minority and stand up against all adversities that we face.
Its easy to be a rabble rouser and get crushed by own ego. But to get over it will require great strength.
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Sep 05, 2015 05:14pm
Good news for TAPI. It would strengthen their present relations and also help towards confidence building particularly for P & I, which in return bring prosperity.
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Sep 05, 2015 05:34pm
Anyone who allows this pipeline through is Pakistan's Enemy #1.
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Sep 05, 2015 05:45pm
@Ibrar Atam Vetta's comments appear to be more practical. The pipe line from Iran is expected to be underneath the sea waters such that safety is better guaranteed.
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Sep 05, 2015 06:22pm
This might end up being the TAP , TAPC pipeline or not even that. I don't see this reaching India. There is no point if it does either. Because, it will be held hostage to Indo-Pak politics. What a waste of money!
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Sep 05, 2015 06:29pm
@Sara Tell that to the Kashmiris. They want to move on too, they don't want to be oppressed and want independence from India. Will you move on?
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Sep 05, 2015 06:38pm
Will Taliban let Pipeline run smoothly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I don't think so.
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Sep 05, 2015 06:40pm
Well, let's talk Kashmir first, development and poor without food can wait.
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Sep 05, 2015 06:57pm
Energy is everybody's need. Let us join hands and get benefited. Let this is first step in healthy relationships. Other burning issues may die of natural death if there is a financial interest for both countries.
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Sep 05, 2015 07:22pm
Im glad the project is going ahead, im more interested in the TAP part and not too concerned with the I. Pak own demand make this project viable, lets not forget Pak is a coubtry of 200 million and over 65million are upper middle class. For those who will reply with negative xomments, pls go see Pak first and you will see the wealth people have. So lets use Pak plus points and advertise to the world that we are here for business.
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Sep 05, 2015 07:45pm
@Najma Hisham Forward looking good comment.
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Sep 05, 2015 08:38pm
@Nisar kudos at last some one here making sense ....
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Sep 05, 2015 08:51pm
@Bharatiya
it should Terminate Pipeline upto Pakistan
India Should be Out of Project
Pakistan should not allowed any access of Line
First Fix issue of Kashmir Than Talk about Business
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Sep 05, 2015 08:53pm
@mimi sur
Great Who Cares about India Need on Pipeline
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Sep 05, 2015 09:15pm
Probably it would be another dream.
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Sep 05, 2015 09:34pm
This is again Cart before the horse. Before creating peace in the region, making huge investment in the project having no any reasonable surety not to be subverted, is a lopsided initiative at this stage.
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Sep 05, 2015 10:03pm
Both India & Pakistan will benefit from TAPI gas project for at least 30 years.It is much cheaper than Iran gas pipeline.Only Pakistan should not try to choke it (for political reasons) once it becomes operational and stop gas supply to India.If India gets used to TAPI gas continously for some years and suddenly Pakistan stops it ,it will create a huge problem for India
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Sep 05, 2015 10:19pm
@Sandeep SIngh : Tell this secret to Turkmenistan.
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Sep 05, 2015 10:19pm
Think india has water for you can have gas for india.
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Sep 05, 2015 10:22pm
Terminate the pieline in Pakistan (preferably in Punjab, near the Indian border). Start discussions with India, if they want it, they can build their's on their side of the border, and if they pay the transit fee, turn-on the gas, otherwise direct it south-bound to Karachi, where it can be liquefied and shipped all over the world.
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Sep 05, 2015 10:28pm
The project will hardly materialize- but if it does then good. We need to focus on Iran pipeline for now.
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Sep 05, 2015 10:28pm
@suman modi? What does he have to do with this?
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Sep 05, 2015 10:32pm
TAPI looks just a dream.India has other sources hence.
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Sep 05, 2015 10:36pm
@Harmony-1 we share nothing in common except a border
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Sep 05, 2015 10:57pm
@Canada: You mean more than million Kashmiris kicked out by Pakistan's favorite "freedom fighters"? Or thousands of those Kashmiris who wanted to live in a democratic country but were shot dead by "freedom fighters" (political workers of NC, Congress, CPI etc.)? You mean millions of people in Kashmir valley who would not say what they raelly want because "freedom fighters" will pay them a visit? You mean millions living in Kargill, Drass and Ladakh? You mean many more millions living in Jammu?
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Sep 05, 2015 11:14pm
@suman Modi's "power"?! Please explain
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Sep 06, 2015 12:00am
@ZULFIQAR
Bhai, to build a pipeline you need money. Find out how much India is paying?
Or are you in a impression that Turkmen is constructing the Pipeline for free?
Moreover your consumption won't make the project viable without India. Pakistan's gas demand can be met by importing from oman.
Check the facts befor attacking the keyboard.
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Sep 06, 2015 12:46am
@ZULFIQAR without india it will be useless since india is the largest buyer here, now dont tell me that you will re route it to china
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Sep 06, 2015 12:49am
@Ibrar . No. At the joint Modi-Putin meeting in India where the oil field deal was announced by Putin, a journalist asked if Putin is thinking of an oil pipe line from Russia to India, he replied, it is not possible and the oil will be delivered by tankers from Russia (as is the Iran gas). Incidentally, Rosneft will be taking over an Indian oil company that imports oil from from Iran with India's permission. Putin wants Rosneft to investigate the possibility of oil and gas under sea pipelines connecting Iran & an Arab country to India. It will be outside the Pak sea border. Further, If you really think that India has already decided on TAPI, all I can say is that you know very little about Modi.
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Sep 06, 2015 12:50am
The regional countries will have better relations once they will be inter dependent on each other for trade. All should remove hurdles and try to facilitate trade through their land. A country which tries to block trade routes, automatically gets blocked and isolated. People want better life and not war.
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Sep 06, 2015 01:22am
@mimi sur "Crazy, this pipe-line passes through Pakistan " Ha ha ha...precisely.
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Sep 06, 2015 01:23am
@DV Rajput "Ibrar come out of your dreams, India has alternate options too.." Please use them.
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Sep 06, 2015 03:01am
Iran doesn't have the gas to export when you need it most. In the winter. They don't even have enough to meet long time trade partner Turkey's demand in the winter. Where are they going to get it from for Pakistan?
TAPI is the only source of affordable gas Pakistan has access to.
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Sep 06, 2015 03:10am
If Pakistan can allow flow of gas to India why cannot it allow transit of Afghan trade to India,India should get that resolved first
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Sep 06, 2015 05:21am
As for the Indians who think it can be shipped via Chah Bahar, please realize that Iran has no interest in allowing vast sums of Turkmen gas onto the world market. Turkmenistan's gas reserves are a threat to Iran. You think they'll just happily allow Turkmenistan to get yet ANOTHER market in India? Nope. They might not oppose TAPI, but the Iranians won't help Turkmenistan either. Because just as Pepsi doesn't aid Coca Cola, nor will Iran help its competitor Turkmenistan.
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Sep 06, 2015 06:17am
@mimi sur , oh yeah, talk to Modi.
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Sep 06, 2015 06:20am
No we should never let it go through Pakistan till India comes to the table and sorts out the disputes.
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Sep 06, 2015 06:23am
@suman, We Punjabis have an old saying:"to actually get the job done you have to get up and do it ". So lets do it. India and Pakistan having a vision working together.
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Sep 06, 2015 07:37am
@ZULFIQAR - if Pakistan engages in the misadventure of messing with the pipeline, river waters have this nasty way of turning their course!!
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Sep 06, 2015 08:45am
It is not TAPI, it will be diverted to Chahabar from Afghanistan.
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Sep 06, 2015 04:38pm
thats not good news for india. pakistan would then have a leverage over india in terms of gas supplies through the pipeline, as it lies upstream on the pipeline.
good thing we cozied up with the afgans. GAS-to-liquid is the next "oil", for some reason indians keep investing in that instead of focusing on thorium which works both for civil and military.
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Sep 06, 2015 05:39pm
@SRIDHAR RAGHUNATHA RAO
But is that not going to be phenomenally costly option. if underwater pipeline is the final decision it means that Modi has failed to negotiate things with Pakistan and hence lost any chances of a future land route to CAR. And this situation essentially related to the rigid current positions on the bilateral issues. That is a perfect example how leaders create or perpetuate problems and keep their respective societies antagonistic to each other in all matters.
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Sep 07, 2015 01:59am
@Sahil No no Pakistan must not let the pipe line go through the country till We resolve the issues.
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Sep 07, 2015 02:07am
@Nisar without the I it will be just P
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Sep 07, 2015 07:48am
@Ibrar Chabbar is on my dear it will be Indias Gateway to central Asia ..China has Gwadar. India and Iran are Helping each other in Chabbar. .we don't Have problems with your CPEc and you should not have problems with ours..
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Sep 07, 2015 09:35am
@Darashikoh and Pakistan, it's huge transit fees.
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Sep 07, 2015 09:43am
@Indian indians good loaded on boats in bombay, sail to chabbar , off load there. Driven to Afghanistan, paying royalties everywhere. Just the Insurance cost of goods will make the products too pricey and uncompetitive. Unless ofcourse Indian government subsidies the costs, in which case it defeats the purpose in the first place. Mope, India check mated here for sure, by CPEC.
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Sep 07, 2015 11:58am
@niju : If you remove India from the project, then who will buy the GAS? Pakistan and Afghanistan? And if so, is it viable? Pak agreed only for the benefit of the transit charges it will receive. Pakistan cannot generate enough money to handle itself. It is solely depends on USA & China. If they get money which is their own earned money, it is better for both India & Pakistan. May be because of this business activity the peace process will start.
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Sep 07, 2015 01:52pm
@Sahil I don't understand how this will work considering the energy India has utilized in turning Afghanistan against Pakistan
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Sep 08, 2015 12:57am
@Yogesh I dont think the pipeline will end in india because india is too poor to pay and has the worst record in international markets as poor creditworthiness. India has debt of $500 billion. I think pipeline will end in China, so it will become TAPC. The future projects will all have a C in it ( China), otherwise the project will be worthless.
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