The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Turkmenistan's government has reviewed progress on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline and reaffirmed plans to expand hydrocarbon production as part of its strategy to boost energy exports and regional cooperation.
According to a statement released Sunday by the state-owned
oil concern Turkmennebit, the issues were discussed during a government meeting
on the performance of the country's oil and gas sector during the first seven
months of 2026.
Senior officials from Turkmennebit, Turkmengaz,
Turkmengeology and TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd., along with executives from
sectoral associations and enterprises, presented reports on production and
development activities.
The government said particular attention was given to construction
of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the TAPI pipeline, which links Turkmenistan
with neighboring Afghanistan.
"Particular attention was paid to construction of the
main Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India
gas pipeline in compliance with international standards," the statement
said.
Officials also outlined priorities for the energy sector,
including expanding geological exploration, increasing production drilling to
identify new hydrocarbon deposits, boosting oil and natural gas output, and
improving the quality of extracted resources.
The approximately 1,800-kilometer (1,120-mile) TAPI pipeline
is designed to transport up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually
from Turkmenistan's Galkynysh gas field through Afghanistan to Pakistan and
India. Turkmenistan has long promoted the project as a key route for
diversifying its gas exports and strengthening regional economic integration.
The pipeline's gas supplies are expected to come from the
Galkynysh field, one of the world's largest natural gas deposits, with
estimated reserves exceeding 27 trillion cubic meters.
In April, Turkmengaz and China's CNPC launched the fourth
phase of Galkynysh's development, a project that includes new production
facilities and additional wells expected to increase commercial gas production
by up to 10 billion cubic meters annually.
The TAPI project has gained renewed attention in recent
months. In an analysis published in early June, the Belfer Center for Science
and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School said the pipeline is
re-emerging in regional energy discussions as a mechanism for connecting
Turkmenistan's gas resources with growing energy demand in South Asia.
