87 km of TAPI Gas Pipeline Route Prepared Toward Herat
DID Press: Local officials in western Afghanistan say preparatory work on Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline toward the city of Herat is continuing, with 87 kilometers of the planned 153-kilometer stretch inside Afghanistan territory now completed.
Ahmad Jan Bilal, a representative of the company implementing the project, said once the TAPI pipeline reaches Herat province, the first phase of domestic utilization will begin.
Under the initial phase, imported gas from Turkmenistan will be supplied to the Herat Industrial Park and selected power generation projects, before distribution is expanded to urban consumers, officials said.
Taliban authorities said the project can help meet part of Herat’s industrial and energy needs and play a significant role in strengthening the province’s economic infrastructure.
Abdul Bari Omar, head of Afghanistan’s state electricity company (Breshna), said negotiations with Turkmenistan are ongoing to finalize the price of imported gas. He added that once pricing is agreed, preparations will begin for the construction of gas distribution stations and gas-fired power plants inside Afghanistan.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban administration, described TAPI as a strategically important project for Afghanistan, saying the government is committed to completing the pipeline segment crossing Afghanistan territory as quickly as possible. He said the first phase focuses on reaching Herat, followed by extending the pipeline to southern Afghanistan and onward through Pakistan to India in line with regional agreements.
According to official figures, about 816 kilometers of the TAPI pipeline route runs through Afghanistan. The project, involving Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, aims to transport Turkmen gas to South Asia and promote regional economic cooperation.
TAPI was launched in 2015 but faced repeated delays in Afghanistan due to financial, political and security challenges. Work on the Afghanistan section resumed in September 2024.
Beyond technical and financial hurdles, regional political and border tensions remain key challenges. Strained relations between the Taliban authorities and Pakistan over security issues, as well as long-standing disputes between Pakistan and India, may negatively affect commitments, timelines and the project’s overall economic viability, raising the risk of further delays in completing parts of the pipeline.