Export of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan

Export of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan

Taliban authorities have announced that the international firm “Yasser Basir” has commenced exporting natural gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan. This development was revealed through a newsletter published by the Taliban government’s office in Kandahar, which highlighted the official ceremony that took place in Shurandum, Kandahar.

At the ceremony, Mohammad Yunus Mohmand, the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, stated that Turkmenistan’s natural gas would be transported to Pakistan through Afghanistan, covering a distance of 1,830 kilometres. Initially, 50 gas shipments were sent to Pakistan via Spin Boldak Kandahar.

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There has been no information regarding the progress of the TAPI gas project, but the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce has confirmed the export of Turkmen gas from Afghanistan to Pakistan by truck. The TAPI pipeline aims to connect energy-rich Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India through Afghanistan. Annually, it is expected to deliver 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas over a 1,800-kilometer route, originating from Galkinish, the world’s second-largest gas field, and ending in the Indian city of Fazilka near the Pakistan border.

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The Afghan pipeline is planned to stretch from the northwest border with Turkmenistan, southward through the western city of Herat, and on to Kandahar near the border with Pakistan. The project was initiated in Afghanistan in 2018 while the Taliban was fighting the Western-backed government in Kabul. However, the current Taliban administration has pledged support for the project, as it is considered a vital component of the nation’s future economic infrastructure.

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Afghanistan, which has consistently struggled with energy shortages, is expected to consume 5% of the gas itself, while the remainder will be split equally between Pakistan and India. Moreover, Kabul could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in transit fees through this arrangement.