ISLAMABAD, March 17: Pakistan is determined to start practical work on its section of the multi-billion dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project during the current year and complete it within the stipulated time frame.
“Pakistan is preparing to start work on the project this year as Turkmenistan has already completed the construction work on its section, while Afghanistan has performed ground-breaking of the project last year,” an official source privy to petroleum sector developments told APP.
He said Pakistan had recently signed the Host Government Agreement (HGA) with Turkmenistan and would lay gas pipeline on its section from Chaman to Multan via Quetta and Dera Ismail Khan.
Under the project, he said, a 56-inch diameter 1,680 kilometers pipeline, having capacity to flow 3.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) gas, would be laid from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan up to Pak-India border by the year 2020.
As per the TAPI agreement, Pakistan and India will be provided 1.325 bcfd (billion cubic feet per day) gas each and Afghanistan will be getting the share of 0.5 bcfd gas.
“The project is consisted of two phases. In first phase, there will be free flow of gas in the pipeline which will be completed at an estimated cost of $ 5 to 6 billion, while in second phase compressor stations will be stalled at a cost of $ 1.9 to 2 billion,” he said.
Commenting on progress made on the project so far in Pakistan, the official said Technical Consultant of the project had been appointed and the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) had been completed. The procurement process for pipelines, long lead items and appointment of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor has been started.
He said Turkmenistan and Pakistan wanted to hold the Steering Committee meeting of the project in March 2019. “The tenders relating to this project will be analyzed in next 2 months. The construction equipment will be procured in May 2019.”
(APP)
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