Work on Tapi project to be on fast track

Islamabad: All parties to Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) gas pipeline have agreed to make the project a reality on fast track basis and complete the modalities for it side by side with India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) gas line.

Sources said that the Indian side is participating in the talks with a clear indication to stay on board for both Tapi and IPI simultaneously. Its Oil Minister Murli Duara is in Pakistan to participate in the talks being held here on the project for the last three days. The ministerial level talks on Tapi are going to conclude on Thursday and their outcome is likely to be announced by the teams' leaders at a press conference at a hotel here.

An official, part of Pakistan's team, told that talks held so far on Tapi were very fruitful and provided a clear vision for moving forward to complete the project on fast track basis. He said the project was economically feasible as it can supplement the interested parties' efforts to meet their growing energy demands from external sources in the future.

According to him, the Turkmen side had provided a certification showing adequate gas reserves at Daultabad gas field to ensure continuous supply for Tapi for at least 30 years.

Gas reserves certification was demanded by Pakistan in the last steering committee meeting held in Islamabad some one year back. The law and order situation in Afghanistan is another question mark for Tapi. Pakistan and other parties to it want a clear guarantee from Afghanistan for foolproof system for protection of the pipeline. The Tapi talks would be followed by a fresh round of bilateral talks between Islamabad and New Delhi on IPI.