Construction work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is actively underway in Afghanistan, the “Nebit-Gaz” newspaper reported.

As the publication notes, earlier during his visit to the United States, the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in an interview with Al Arabiya TV, emphasized that the TAPI project is continuing successfully and enjoys broad international support.

According to the newspaper, the 214-kilometer Turkmen section of the pipeline is now fully completed. Work is focused on the Afghan route, where construction of the 153-kilometer Serhetabat-Herat section is proceeding rapidly. This stage is of strategic importance for the further advancement of the project and the strengthening of bilateral economic ties. Construction of this section began on September 11, 2024. Hundreds of Turkmen engineers, gas workers, and construction workers are involved in the projects, ensuring the quality of the work.

According to Akmyrat Gurbangulyev, Head of the Design Department at the “Turkmengaz” State Concern, a robust material and technical base has been created for the project, allowing for construction even in remote mountainous areas. Geodetic surveys have been completed along the entire 153-kilometer Afghan section, of which over 100 kilometers have already been handed over to contractors.

As part of contractual obligations, 1400 mm diameter ball valves were delivered to Turkmenistan. Deliveries of 1422 mm diameter pipes continue, with the latest batch arriving at the Georgian port of Poti. Connecting, insulating, and welding materials are also being supplied.

Abdy Akmyradov, chief specialist of “Turkmengazgurlushyk” JSC, briefed journalists on construction details. On the Afghan section, welding and assembly work has been completed over 15.5 kilometers, and trenching has been completed over 13.4 kilometers. Pipe laying and alignment work, under challenging rocky conditions, has been completed over 13.1 kilometers. The pipeline route has been leveled over 93.1 kilometers.

To ensure high-quality welding, 217 specialists from “Turkmengaz” State Corporation have passed qualification tests, and 14 welding and assembly teams have been formed. 253 units of modern equipment, including Zoomlion bulldozers and Komatsu excavators, are deployed at the construction sites.

The TAPI project is designed to supply natural gas to consumers in South Asia. The pipeline is planned to run through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar, and the Pakistani cities of Quetta and Multan, all the way to Fazilka on the Pakistan-India border. The pipeline's designed capacity will be 33 billion cubic meters per year. Afghanistan is projected to earn over 1 billion USD annually from gas transit.