Ground-breaking Delays Raise Cost of Transnational TAPI Gas Pipeline
The Asian Development Bank cautioned this week that the cost of the proposed 1680 km transnational natural gas pipeline bringing annually 3.2 billion cubic feet of gas from Yoloten and adjacent fields in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India (TAPI) will increase from $7.5 billion to $10 billion due to delays affecting project commencement.
High - ranking representatives of all participating countries as well as those from French oil giant Total met in Islamabad to finalize the multi-billion dollar contract. Total, acting as consortium leader, will develop the fields in Turkmenistan and construct the pipeline as well.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the project will have a tremendous positive impact on the entire region: "We are facing a shortage of gas and TAPI will help immensely in meeting the deficit. Everyone should take responsibility so that we can fulfill our obligation to the nation."