He made the above remark while referring to the improbability of completing Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline project (TAPI).
Due to Iran’s position in the region, “Iran can be a partner in any pipeline project which passes through the country,” he maintained.
Iran is the best route for transferring Turkmenistan’s gas to Pakistan, he said, adding, “assuming that the TAPI pipeline project is to be constructed in the next 10 years, it is unclear that from where financial resources of this project will be provided.”
Iran is now swapping Turkmenistan gas bound for Azerbaijan Republic, based on which, the republic receives Turkmen gas at its border and delivers the same amount of gas at the border of Azerbaijan, the deputy oil minister highlighted.
The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline, also known as Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Galkynysh – TAPI Pipeline Company Limited with participation of the Asian Development Bank.
TAPI gas pipeline project is expected to transit Turkmenistan gas to India, he said, and put the cost spent for the construction of this giant project at between $7.5 and $10 billion.
MA/82900346