South Asia

Feb 22, 2006

India to join Turkmenistan gas pipeline

NEW DELHI - Ahead of a visit by US President George Bush next month, India has decided to join the US-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP)pipeline to import natural gas to meet the fuel needs of its growing economy.

New Delhi earlier this month participated for the first time as an "observer" in the 9th meeting of the steering committee of the TAP project and has since decided to join the US$3.5-billion project. "We have 90 days to get necessary official approvals to join the project. Once approved by the cabinet, the project will be renamed TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline)," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said. Officials said the

pipeline from Turkmenistan would be easier to implement than the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI)line as it already had the backing of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Moreover, unlike IPI, the project does not run the risk of being blacklisted for participation by US and European financiers and companies. The US has been encouraging Pakistan to abandon the IPI project and consider TAP for meeting its gas needs.

The Bush administration accuses Tehran of harboring nuclear weapon ambitions and has called for its isolation.

The proposed natural gas pipeline would stretch from the Turkmenistan/Afghanistan border in southeastern Turkmenistan to Multan, Pakistan (790 miles, 1,271 kilometers), with a 400-mile extension to India.

The estimated cost of the project is $2.9 billion for the segment to Pakistan and an additional $600 million for the extension to India.

(Asia Pulse/PTI)

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