TAPI Gas Pipeline project to be inaugurated on December 13 with a cost of $ 10 billions
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TAJIKISTAN: The construction of the TAPI gas pipeline involving Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India will begin from December 13, an official said. The ground breaking ceremony of the 1,735-km with cost of $10 billion, long gas pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India (TAPI) will take place in Turkmenistan. The transnational gas pipeline project is vital for the economic growth of the regional countries, Pakistan's Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada said. He said the TAPI project was vital for Pakistan's energy needs and would strengthen relations between Islamabad and Ashgabat.He said the project would be beneficial for the economies of both the countries. Turkmenistan state media reported this month that Turkmenistan and Afghanistan have agreed to jointly launch the construction of the multi-billion dollar TAPI pipeline. Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was reported to have discussed the new pipeline in a phone call with Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani, who hailed it as "extremely important for the entire region". The gas pipeline is expected to last 30 years with a proposed annual capacity of transporting 33 billion cubic metres of gas. The TAPI pipeline would span more than 700 km in Afghanistan on its way to Pakistan and India.Supported by the US and the Asian Development Bank, the gas pipeline would help Turkmenistan to find new consumers in Asia via Afghanistan. Reference: Tajikistan News