ISLAMABAD: The groundbreaking ceremony of $10-12 billion Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project is expected by end of this year.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday said the project would cost 10 to 12 billion dollars downstream and $1.5 to 200 million for upstream work.
He said gas supply would start within next four to five years which would help overcome gas shortage in the country.
Addressing a media briefing, he said agenda of the project was decided in a ministerial meeting of all the members countries held at Askabad, Turkmenistan earlier this month.
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Jan Kamal Khan informed that five percent cost of the project would be paid by each member country while the major share of 51 percent is contributed by a private company of Turkmenistan.
He said that no decision has been taken so for regarding the remaining cost which would be open and any company can apply for that.
Shahid Khaqan said that the total production from TAPI project would be 3.2 BCFD while Pakistan and India would get 1.32 BCFD gas each.
He informed that Pakistan would get royalty from India and pay it to Afghanistan, adding Afghanistan would get $ 600 mln from each Pakistan and India which would be its major source of income.
Security is the main issue for this huge investment project and they are taking special measure for it, the minister said adding, “Security is their major concern and they would ensure it on modern grounds”.
