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Turkmenistan pushes TAPI forward but doubts remain

Turkmenistan is eager to start building its segment of the TAPI gas pipeline, but it is unclear how far the scheme can progress Turkmenistan is eager to start building its segment of the TAPI gas pipeline, but it is unclear how far the scheme can progress.
By Joshua Posaner, Staff reporter and Garima Chitkara 11 November 2015 0 18271
The inauguration of the Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline in 2009. TAPI will likely face significant obstacles. (PA)

The long-mooted Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline appears to be on the verge of a major breakthrough, but key hurdles look likely to hold up construction of the promising yet politically challenging project.

Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has invited his Afghan counterpart to the country on 13 December for the groundbreaking ceremony for the local segment of the 1,600 km project.

But it remains unclear as to whether TAPI will overcome political instability in the region beyond Turkmenistan, allowing the country’s 70 billion cubic metres per year of gas...