TAPI Pipeline to Begin Commercial Operations in 2017-18

India’s ministry of petroleum and natural gas has said that the commercial operation of $9-billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is expected to commence by 2017-18, Business Standard reported.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament, on Friday, the minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, P Lakshmi said, “Upon completion, TAPI Project envisages supply of 38 million metric standard cubic metre per day (mmscmd) of gas to India. So far, the inter-governmental agreement, gas pipeline framework agreement and the gas sales purchase agreement have been finalised.  Commercial operation of TAPI project is expected to commence in 2017-18.”

Recently, the Centre gave clearance for setting up of a special purpose vehicle for the TAPI pipeline project, allowing GAIL to be a part of it.  The 1,080 Km pipeline would have a capacity to carry 90 mmscmd of gas, which would be shared by India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.