TAPI Pipeline to Create More Than 12,000 Jobs in Afghanistan

DID Press: The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project is expected to create more than 12,000 jobs in Afghanistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslahaty, said.

Berd Berdimuhamedov said the project is currently under construction and, once completed, will transport up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Turkmenistan’s giant Galkynysh gas field to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

The TAPI pipeline is planned to stretch about 1,800 km from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. Afghan government sources put the total length at about 1,814 km and say the project is designed to strengthen regional energy connectivity, generate transit revenues and create employment in Afghanistan.

Construction of the Afghan section has accelerated. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum reported in July that 101 km of pipeline had been laid, while another 126 km of the corridor had been prepared for installation.

Turkmenistan views TAPI as a major route for diversifying its gas exports and expanding economic cooperation between Central and South Asia. For Afghanistan, the project is also expected to generate transit income and employment while strengthening its position as an energy transit corridor.