The TAPI or the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India Gas Pipeline project is expected to be completed by 2017 according to Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily.
Before leaving for Turkmenistan capital Asgabat for delegation level talks on the project today, he said that India is actively engaged in TAPI project. The four nations will finalize a consortium, TAPI Limited to arrange the financial support for the 10 billion dollars project. Turkmenistan will export up to 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year through the 2,000 kilometer long gas pipeline that will start from Turkmenistan and reach India after passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Under the original project plan, India and Pakistan will get 1.365 billion cubic feet of gas per day, while Afghanistan will get 0.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day from Turkmenistan. The Minister said once completed, the pipeline will ensure natural gas supplies to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan from Turkmenistan and meet the growing energy needs of the people in the region.
The Petroleum Minster termed his Iraq visit as very successful and said the two countries have decide to expand co-operation in energy security, bilateral trade and commerce, infrastructure development among others. Iraq will supply more crude oil to India to meet its growing energy needs.