TAPI pipeline project to commence soon
OIL & GAS

TAPI pipeline project to commence soon

Authorities from Turkmenistan are likely to arrive this weekend in Kabul to discuss commencing the work on the 1,800 kilometre TAPI pipeline, which Unocal vice-president Marty Miller's imagination helped birth—and, if it was not for 9/11, Unocal might just have succeeded.

TAPI is built to transport 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas each year from the Galkynysh fields, the world’s second-largest, across Afghanistan and Pakistan into Fazilka in southern Punjab.

For over three decades, the project has been viewed as a win for all its participants. Landlocked Turkmenistan would discover markets for its gas, cash-strapped Afghanistan and Pakistan would obtain from transit fees, and hydrocarbon-hungry India from reliable, cheap energy.

Even as it fought the Afghan state, the Taliban promised not to attack any TAPI-related development work, knowing it would additionally bring windfall gains.

Since 2016, New Delhi has supported TAPI; government-owned energy giant GAIL holds a 5% stake in the TAPI Pipeline Company, the special-purpose consortium behind the project.

Despite the hype, though, huge questions are hanging over the project—and not just around the obvious problems associated with pushing a pipeline through a war-torn nation. Funding the pipeline is the biggest of them.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has evaluated the cost of constructing the pipeline itself at some $10 billion. Experts consider the actual amount slightly higher, at $14-16 billion, not including upstream investments required for Turkmenistan to generate the promised 33bcm.

Expert Steve Mann has recommended that, in reality, it is very fair to view TAPI as a $40 billion plan.

Image Source



Authorities from Turkmenistan are likely to arrive this weekend in Kabul to discuss commencing the work on the 1,800 kilometre TAPI pipeline, which Unocal vice-president Marty Miller's imagination helped birth—and, if it was not for 9/11, Unocal might just have succeeded. TAPI is built to transport 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas each year from the Galkynysh fields, the world’s second-largest, across Afghanistan and Pakistan into Fazilka in southern Punjab. For over three decades, the project has been viewed as a win for all its participants. Landlocked Turkmenistan would discover markets for its gas, cash-strapped Afghanistan and Pakistan would obtain from transit fees, and hydrocarbon-hungry India from reliable, cheap energy. Even as it fought the Afghan state, the Taliban promised not to attack any TAPI-related development work, knowing it would additionally bring windfall gains. Since 2016, New Delhi has supported TAPI; government-owned energy giant GAIL holds a 5% stake in the TAPI Pipeline Company, the special-purpose consortium behind the project. Despite the hype, though, huge questions are hanging over the project—and not just around the obvious problems associated with pushing a pipeline through a war-torn nation. Funding the pipeline is the biggest of them. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has evaluated the cost of constructing the pipeline itself at some $10 billion. Experts consider the actual amount slightly higher, at $14-16 billion, not including upstream investments required for Turkmenistan to generate the promised 33bcm. Expert Steve Mann has recommended that, in reality, it is very fair to view TAPI as a $40 billion plan. Image Source

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Samridh, CEID Launch High-Capacity Biogas Plant in Moradabad

Samridh Bioenergy has broken ground on a 12 TPD compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, under the MNRE’s National Bioenergy Programme. Spread across 12 acres, the plant will process 270 tonne of organic waste daily and generate 30,000 cubic metre of biogas per day.CEID Consultants and Engineering Pvt Ltd has been appointed as the EPC contractor, responsible for the complete design, procurement, and construction of the plant. Equipped with four multi-feed digesters, the facility will accept a mix of press mud, cow dung, chicken litter, and vegetable waste, supporting contin..

Next Story
Real Estate

Delhi Micro-Markets Drive Up Housing Prices: Grihum Study

A new study by Grihum Housing Finance reveals that the rise of micro-markets across Delhi-NCR is fuelling real estate price appreciation, especially in the affordable housing segment. Key drivers include renewed post-pandemic interest, migration trends, and government schemes like PMAY.According to the study, over the past two decades, floor rates have risen 267 per cent, from Rs 1,500 per sq ft in 2005 to Rs 5,500 in 2024. In the same period, land rates surged 492 per cent, from Rs 1,300 to Rs 7,700 per sq ft. The sharp increase highlights strong capital appreciation in Delhi’s emerging loc..

Next Story
Resources

Covestro Develops PCR Polycarbonates from End-of-Life Headlamps

Materials manufacturer Covestro has launched post-consumer recycled (PCR) polycarbonates made from end-of-life automotive headlamps, in a move aimed at strengthening circularity in the auto industry. These TÜV Rheinland-certified grades, containing 50 per cent recycled content, are now commercially available for new automotive applications.Developed under a joint programme led by GIZ, with Volkswagen and NIO as key partners, the recycled material is currently being validated for use in future vehicle models.""This new line of polycarbonate represents a significant step in supporting the autom..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?