Turkmenistan to Accelerate TAPI Pipeline Construction: A Long-Awaited Breakthrough or Another Failure?
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has ordered an acceleration of the Galkynysh gas field development and the long-stalled construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline. However, after nearly 30 years of negotiations and eight years of construction, the project remains far from completion.
Why Is TAPI Stalling?
TAPI is one of Central Asia’s most ambitious energy projects. The 1,814-kilometer pipeline was designed to transport up to 33 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas annually to Pakistan and India, opening new export markets for Turkmenistan.
However, the initial deadlines were missed. The 214-kilometer Turkmen section was supposed to be completed by 2017, yet by that time, only 8 kilometers of the pipeline had been laid. Since then, no concrete updates on the project’s progress have been officially disclosed.
The main issue is financing. In 2016, the Turkmen government allocated $45 million to launch the project, but this was far from sufficient. The economic crisis caused by falling energy prices severely impacted the country’s budget, slowing construction efforts.
Is There Hope for Completion?
Turkmen authorities claim their section of the pipeline is nearly finished. However, Pakistan remains unprepared to receive Turkmen gas due to a lack of necessary infrastructure. Meanwhile, India, another potential buyer, has not even begun planning its distribution networks.
By March 2025, it will be 30 years since negotiations on TAPI began. Over this time, the project has become a symbol of Turkmenistan’s inability to implement large-scale energy initiatives.
While Ashgabat once again promises to accelerate work, without a clear financing plan and tangible progress, these statements may end up as yet another empty promise.
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