Tapi gas pipeline expected to move further after numerous hindrances

LAHORE: China has officially approached the Pakistani authorities and presented a prospect for a China-Turkmenistan pipeline which is to cross quite a lot of Central Asian mountain areas.

The Managing Director of Inter State Gas Systems (ISGS), Mobin Saulat stated, “It would be inexpensive and much more convenient for China to build this project from Pakistan’s region to cross the Karakoram range to its western border. Also, the Chinese government has got in touch with us freshly, and their prospect has been shared with Turkmenistan, where it is presently in the transitory process of an evaluation process.”

According to details, it is observed that Pakistan is probable to ink the host country contract earlier than the mid of next month or in January 2019, in order to permit officially the placing and passing of the TAPI gas pipeline through its region and making easier for India to connect it close to the Fazilka district.

Also, it is predictable that Prime Minister Imran Khan will be inaugurating the 780km extensive segment of the TAPI project.

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Managing Director Inter State Gas Systems (ISGS), Mobin Saulat also added, “A high profile delegation from Turkmenistan is expected to visit Islamabad by the end of November. But, due to variety of activities scheduled, we want the delegation to visit during the next month’s first week.”

It needs to be mention here that, Pakistan will act as a host country in this contract with Turkmenistan over giving of transit rights for placement of the pipeline, assisting India to connect it in its region with its origin point-Fazilka district, near Multan. This 1,800km long pipeline, which instigate from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, passes through Herat and Kandahar in Afghanistan, moves through Pakistan via Quetta and Multan and terminates at Fazilka in India.

However, it is observed that the signing ceremony has been postponed since December 2017, as the outgoing PML-N led government previously planned to ink the agreement and get the civil work commence during May, but unfortunately, it couldn’t do so.

Mr. Saulat also added that, Pakistan has accomplished full elementary works (survey, mapping, soil tests, land acquisition etc) which are necessary before launching the civil work for placing the pipeline.

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