The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Project will help reduce Pakistans supply-demand gap by up to 1.3 bcfd, through an investment of just $200 million in the pipeline Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), according to the Petroleum Division.
The Petroleum Division stated in official documents obtained by the media that the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Project is a game changer that will bring prosperity to not only Pakistan but also the entire South East Asia by supplying 3.2 billion cubic feet per day of gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Power Transmission Project, as per the details, will follow the same TAPI route. Still, it will provide additional benefits by allowing Turkmenistan to import up to 4,000 megawatts of energy into Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to the Division, ensuring the natural gas supply would attract new industries and increase economic diversity. It will also enable a new level of trade and cooperation across the region, promoting peace and security among the four nations.
Pakistan will also benefit from transit fees for gas transport to India. According to the project’s supporters, natural gas is a safer and cleaner alternative to coal and diesel-fired power generation.
Moreover, Musadik Malik, Minister of State for Petroleum, stated that the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project is on track and will be completed within three to four years of reaching financial close. In addition, the minister announced the expansion of the TAPI gas pipeline to Gwadar.
As per the details, the TAPI pipeline is being built in two stages. In the first phase, a free-flow pipeline with a capacity of approximately 11 billion cubic meters per year will be built, with two compressor stations in Turkmenistan.
While the second phase will add six compressor stations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, increasing delivery capacity to approximately 33 billion cubic meters per year.
It is to be noted that in February 2018, a ceremony marked the start of construction on the pipeline’s Afghanistan-Pakistan section.