Afghanistan is making efforts to pave the way for the practical phase of the multi-billion dollars Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.

Kabul organized a conference on TAPI on Thursday under the theme of “TAPI: Impact on Economic Development in Afghanistan and the Region”.

The conference focused on TAPI project progress, activities, future plans and discussed the importance of the project from an economic point of view both at the national and regional levels including its implications for economic development and regional connectivity.

Addressing the conference, the Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum called implementation of the project very useful for the regional economic cooperation.

“TAPI is having multi-dimensional significance in the country, it creates opportunities and meets the countries requirement for natural gas. It is also very effective for strengthening the regional cooperation,” said Narges Nehan Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Afghan security forces to maintain security for the implementation of the project.

“TAPI is an important regional corridor, this is a project toward peace. Challenges in the region must not prevent the implementation of this project, said Adela Raz, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Cooperation.

Turkmenistan officials also emphasized on the security issues and the challenges ahead.

“I emphasize for the security of this important pipeline, most of these activities needs to be done this year and it needs to be finalized before October or November, said Muhammetmyrat Amanov, CEO of TAPI Pipeline Company Limited.

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) asks the government to give a major role to the private sector in the practical phase of the project.

“I hope these contracts is going to be signed with the private sector of the country, because we speak the same language and we are very familiar with the geography. So, we can implement the projects very well,” said Khan Jaan Alokozay Deputy of the ACCI.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Natural Gas Pipeline (TAPI) Project aims to export up to 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year through a proposed approximately 1,800-kilometer (km) pipeline from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The project has remained a top priority including under the RECCA over the past decade.

By Samira Zafari & Hesamuddin Hesam