Saudi Interest Emerges In TAPI During Taliban-Turkmen Officials Meet
A Saudi company has expressed interest in investing in the TAPI gas pipeline project, Taliban officials said after talks with Turkmenistan’s foreign minister.
A Saudi company has expressed interest in investing in the TAPI gas pipeline project, Taliban officials said after talks with Turkmenistan’s foreign minister.
Abdul Ghani Baradar Taliban Deputy Prime Minister met Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Herat on Sunday to discuss the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) pipeline, related energy projects, rail links and electricity cooperation.
Baradar said the Saudi firm Delta International was interested in investing in gas purchases under the TAPI project, expanding capacity at Turkmenistan’s major gas fields and developing the pipeline route from Guzara district in Herat to Spin Boldak in Kandahar, with a further extension to the Indian border.
He added that the company was also interested in investing in the construction of a large gas hub at Pakistan’s Gwadar port.
The meeting was attended by Taliban ministers for mines and petroleum and for energy and water, as well as Turkmenistan’s transport and railways minister and the head of the state gas company Turkmengaz.
Baradar urged Turkmenistan to clarify its position on the Torghundi–Herat railway project, saying Kazakhstan had also shown strong interest in implementing it.
According to Taliban officials, Meredov said Turkmenistan was fully prepared to invest in the railway and that construction had already begun in Torghundi.
He also said the TAPI pipeline would be extended to the centre of Herat province by the end of the current year and noted that electricity would be supplied to Afghanistan through five routes.
