Four months post the initiation of the Serhetabat-Herat segment of the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline, the Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has announced the construction of 2.9 kilometers of the pipeline, with an additional 3.4 kilometers planned to be developed soon, as reported by TOLOnews.
The TAPI pipeline, estimated to cost a whopping $10 billion, spans 1,814 kilometers. The ambitious project aims to transport roughly 33 bcm of gas annually to South Asia from Turkmenistan.
The Turkmenistan section of the pipeline, covering 214 km, was reportedly finished in 2018. A ceremony was held to commemorate its entrance into Afghanistan. However, as per Bruce Pannier’s coverage, the exact status of completion remains debatable. Turkmen state media continued to report ongoing pipeline work into 2019.
In September 2024, another ceremony was held to celebrate the TAPI pipeline’s entry into Afghanistan. The former President and the current Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, his son, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and acting Taliban Prime Minister Muhammad Hassan Akhund gathered at the Afghan-Turkmen border to inaugurate the construction of the 150 km Serhetabat-Herat segment of the pipeline.
By early December, the Taliban authorities confirmed the commencement of the “practical work”.
The most significant challenge for TAPI has been navigating Afghanistan, with 774 km of the pipeline crossing the country. This poses a considerable challenge for the prevailing authorities in Kabul. The completion of less than 3 km is seen as a significant accomplishment, reflecting the scale of the task at hand.
The Taliban have proposed a four-phase construction plan: The first phase includes the Serhetabat to Herat section, extending from the Turkmen border to the city of Herat. The succeeding phases will extend from Herat to Helmand province, continue from Helmand to Kandahar, and finally connect Kandahar to the Pakistani border.
Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, assured media in December that the first phase would be completed within two years.
In March 2024, Muhammetmyrat Amanov, CEO of the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited consortium, stated at the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan forum that the initial section would span approximately 150 km.
Turkmengas, the state gas company of Turkmenistan, holds the majority shares (85%) in the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited – the project operator. Other stakeholders include Afghan Gas Corporation, Pakistan’s Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited, and India’s GAIL, each holding a 5% stake in the consortium.
The cost of the pipeline project is projected to be around $10 billion.
