Construction of Afghanistan section of the TAPI project starts

The ceremonies of launching the construction of Afghanistan section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, laying the foundation of the electricity transmission lines and fibre-optic lines Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and opening of the Serhetabat-Turgundi railway took place in Serhetabat Etrap, Mary Velayat.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India Mubashir Javed Akbar attended the ceremonies.

The Chairperson of the Mejlis, Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of military and law enforcement agencies, ministries and departments, and public organizations of Turkmenistan took part in the events. The heads of the missions accredited in our country, the delegations from several countries, the representatives of authoritative international financial structures, including the Asian and Islamic Development Banks, foreign businessmen, foreign and national media attended the solemn ceremonies.

The teleconference bridge arranged during the ceremony broadcast the welding of the joint of two steel pipes of a TAPI section, as well as laying the foundation of the electricity transmission lines and fibre-optic lines.

The construction of the Turkmen section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline started in December 2015. The 1.840-kilometer TAPI gas pipeline will provide the opportunity to export 33 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas annually.