The Struggle to Build the TAPI Gas Pipeline Through Afghanistan
Amid a thicket of hopeful rhetoric surrounding the construction of a trans-Afghan pipeline that would carry natural gas from Turkmenistan to South Asia, tangible signs of progress are hard to find. The pipeline, known as TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India), has been on the drawing board for decades, and construction of the first leg of the route, a 153-kilometer stretch from the…
The TAPI pipeline, an ambitious trans-Afghan project aimed at carrying natural gas from Turkmenistan to South Asia, has been a subject of much hopeful rhetoric but little tangible progress. The first leg of the pipeline, stretching 153 kilometers from the Turkmen border at Serhetabat to the Afghan city of Herat, is reportedly moving forward at a slow pace.
Turkmenistan's leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, visited Afghanistan on August 10 to discuss the pipeline's progress and expand trade relations. Turkmen state-controlled media reported that the visit focused on the importance of the TAPI project and its contribution to regional development, emphasizing that Turkmenistan's foreign policy is "peace-loving."
Despite repeated assurances from both Turkmen and Afghan leaders that the project is progressing, official sources provided little concrete information beyond mentioning that the project involves about 700 Turkmen specialists and over 300 specialized equipment units. The most significant development during Berdymukhamedov's visit was the signing of a letter of intent, which outlined basic terms for the shipment of Turkmen gas to the Herat region.
However, the agreement still lacks crucial details, such as pricing and the volume of gas supply, which remain to be negotiated. Turkmenistan's reputation for being difficult to negotiate with on gas export prices adds to the complexity of the situation. Additionally, Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar reportedly pressed Berdymukhamedov to reach a pricing agreement, but without success.
Berdymukhamedov also expressed interest in advancing other connectivity projects, including the construction of a Turkmen-Afghan-Pakistan power transmission line and a fiber-optic cable. He also proposed the creation of a unified logistics center to improve cross-border trade and reduce transit times for overland and rail freight. However, there was no indication that any of these proposals were agreed upon during the visit.
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