Uzbekistan intends to participate in the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline and the development of oil on the Caspian shelf. This is reported on May 22, 2017, by the Turkmenistan-Golden Age following the talks between Uzbek and Turkmen presidents Mirziyoyev and Berdymuhamedov held in Turkmenistan.
The President of Turkmenistan informed that the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI) has entered a practical stage; Ashgabat is ready to increase the supply of electricity to Afghanistan several times; there are opportunities for the participation of Uzbek partners in the TAPI project.
In turn, the Uzbek president said that he 'voiced a proposal' about the participation of the Uzbek side in the TAPI project.
The TAPI gas pipeline is designed to transport fuel from the Turkmen field Dovletabad, whose reserves are estimated at 1.7-4.5 trillion cubic meters.
Thus Turkmenistan, which has the world's 4th proven gas reserves, but does not have access to the open seas, will be able to diversify export gas markets towards the southeast.
Negotiations on the TAPI project began in the mid-1990s, when most of Afghanistan was under the control of the radical Taliban movement.
The TAPI Framework Agreement was signed in September 2010.
In November 2014, the state-owned gas companies of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India established a company that will build the TAPI pipeline.
The founders of the company - Turkmengaz, Afghan Gas, Pakistani ISGS and Indian GAIL will own equal shares in the company's capital.
The project cost exceeds $7.6 billion.
The ceremonial start of construction of the TAPI gas pipeline was held on 13 December 2015.
Earlier in April 2016, the media reported that Uzbekistan does not consider the connection to the TAPI project.
Meanwhile, at a press conference following the talks President Mirziyoyev said that the Uzbekneftegaz company will participate in the development of oil on the Caspian shelf for the 1st time, the Chronicle of Turkmenistan reports.
The parties also agreed on the transit of electricity from Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan through the energy system of Uzbekistan, Gazeta.Uz reports referring to a source in the Uzbek president's office.
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