Afghanistan Progresses on TAPI Gas Pipeline as Kazakhstan Considers Involvement

Afghanistan has achieved substantial progress in building the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.

Approximately six kilometers of pipeline have already been laid since work began last month, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

Herat Governor Maulana Islam Jar assured project representatives of his full support, stating that TAPI will play a crucial role in strengthening the economy and promoting regional stability.

Afghanistan’s section of the pipeline is expected to take approximately two years to complete and represents a significant milestone for the broader project. TAPI is designed to connect Central Asia’s vast gas reserves with the rapidly growing energy markets of South Asia.

During a recent meeting, TAPI’s general director in Afghanistan, Abdullah Yoof, updated Governor Jar on construction progress and outlined further plans for the project, including job creation and infrastructure development in Herat province.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is actively exploring the possibility of joining the TAPI pipeline. The country’s Ministry of Energy has confirmed ongoing negotiations between the national gas company, QazaqGaz, and Turkmengaz, which owns an 85% stake in TAPI Pipeline Company Limited. However, officials have refrained from disclosing details, citing the confidentiality of the discussions.

Kazakhstan’s interest in the project was first officially announced by Deputy Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhanov. Speaking at the Kazakhstan-Afghanistan Business Forum in October 2024, he highlighted that participation in TAPI could provide Kazakhstan with access to new markets, including Pakistan and India while attracting additional investment to the country’s gas sector.

The TAPI pipeline, spanning over 1,800 kilometers, will traverse:

• Turkmenistan - 214 kilometers
• Afghanistan - 774 kilometers
• Pakistan - 826 kilometers

The pipeline will terminate in India, providing a crucial energy link between Central and South Asia.