ASHGABAT, Feb 14: A senior Turkmen energy official said on Tuesday that a key natural gas field in the ex-Soviet nation holds sufficient reserves to fill a planned pipeline to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Speaking at a meeting of energy officials from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, Turkmen Oil and Gas Minister Gurbanmurat Atayev said an audit by US firm DeGolyer and McNaughton had shown that the Dauletabad field holds 4.5 trillion cubic meters (159 trillion cubic feet) of gas.

“An international audit has confirmed the reserves of Dauletabad gas field to be 4.5 trillion cubic meters,” Mr Atayev said. “This is enough to guarantee supplies for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan pipeline.”

Mr Atayev expressed hope that India would also join the project and buy the Turkmen gas.—AP