Construction Begins on TAPI Gas Pipeline

The construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline was officially inaugurated, marking a significant milestone in this $10 billion project aimed at supplying natural gas from Turkmenistan to South Asia. Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov attended the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the pipeline for regional economic ties and energy diversification. The TAPI project, which began construction in Turkmenistan in 2015, has faced delays primarily due to security issues in Afghanistan, but is now set to proceed within Afghan territory. The pipeline will span approximately 1,800 kilometers, delivering 33 billion cubic meters of gas annually, with Afghanistan expected to earn significant transit fees. In addition to the gas pipeline, other infrastructure projects were inaugurated, including a railway bridge and a new power plant in Afghanistan. The collaboration between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan signifies a strengthening of relations as both nations work towards sustainable energy solutions.