Islamabad, December 10 - Neftegaz.RU. Pakistan has been asked to launch construction works on a regional gas pipeline on its side by the next year to facilitate earlier operation of an estimated $8.5 billion project signed eight years ago.
TAPI Limited desires to have an inaugural ceremony in March 2019 in Pakistan, said Muhammetmyrat Amanov, CEO of TPLC (TAPI Pipeline Company Limited). At the ceremony it will request head of states of all 4 countries to attend the formality, Amanov added.
A senior official of the petroleum ministry told The News that the pipeline project is dubbed as ‘peace pipeline project’ and will feed the 3 energy hungry countries for 30 years. This would initially transport 27 bcm of gas a year, which would be increased to 33 bcm after 1 year of operation. Of the supply, Pakistan and India would receive 42 % share each with 16 % going to Afghanistan, an official said.
For years, Pakistan has been suffering from energy shortage that is still haunting its economy. Domestic gas production is around 4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) while demand is 6 bcfd. Gas demand would reach up to 8 bcfd by 2025.
The country is currently importing LNG from Qatar and Italy and is in talks with different countries to sign government-to-government LNG supply deals.
The targeted timeline of TAPI project implementation is 2021, but under an alternate plan, the participating countries would be able to complete the project in 2020. A steering committee comprising of ministers of the 4 countries has already approved a plan under which the flow of gas would start in 1,5 year, the official added.
