TAPI Pipeline Nears Completion in Afghanistan's Herat Province

The long-awaited TAPI pipeline project is finally nearing completion in Afghanistan's western Herat province. According to Governor Noor Ahmad Islamjar, the pipeline will reach Herat within two months, providing a new fuel source for local factories and bringing a decades-old regional energy plan forward.

The approximately 1,800-kilometre pipeline is a joint project that aims to carry 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India. Under the agreement, Afghanistan will receive 5% of the gas, while Pakistan and India will get 47.5% each.

Islamjar stated that Turkmen officials are currently finishing work on the Herat section and will then hand it over to local authorities. He urged factory owners and residents to prepare for using TAPI gas, as an agreement has been signed with Afghan Gas and Türkmengaz to determine gas prices, demand, and distribution.

Afghanistan is expected to earn around $400 million per year in transit fees once the wider project becomes operational. The pipeline was conceptualized in the 1990s and gained momentum with Asian Development Bank (ADB) support in 2003. India joined the project in 2008, with the goal of connecting gas-rich Turkmenistan to energy markets in South Asia.

The completion of the TAPI pipeline will unlock economic opportunities for Afghanistan, transform its infrastructure, and enhance regional energy security. However, the timeline for completing the full pipeline to Pakistan and India remains unclear.