Despite it being winter in the country and heavy snowfall beginning, work on the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline expansion project is progressing rapidly.
Local officials in Herat say that 91 kilometers of the pipeline route have already been prepared, with several work camps set up along this section. They expect that the pipeline project will reach Herat city by the end of the current Gregorian year.
The spokesperson for the Governor of Herat, Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi, stated:
“The TAPI project continues with great speed and seriousness under the efforts of the Islamic Emirate officials. So far, 91 kilometers of the pipeline have been prepared, and according to the plan, it will reach Herat province by the end of 2026.”
The implementation of the TAPI project in Afghanistan was officially inaugurated on September 11, 2024, by the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, and the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. On December 16 of the same year, the Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and his Turkmen counterpart visited Afghanistan to review the progress of TAPI’s implementation.
Experts believe that the TAPI project is of strategic importance for Afghanistan, and its completion will provide the country with sustainable revenue from gas transit. Officials note that the project will also strengthen regional energy cooperation and make Afghanistan a hub for regional economic collaboration.
Analyst Ali Ahmad Ahmadi said:
“If this project continues and the pipeline crosses Afghanistan, the cities along its route will benefit materially. Many Afghans will find employment, contributing to economic growth, and Afghanistan will earn transit revenue from gas to other countries.”
Meanwhile, residents of Herat welcome the progress of the TAPI project, noting that it has been a long-anticipated initiative. They are optimistic that it will foster economic growth and create job opportunities.
Resident Sabghatullah said:
“TAPI is a vital project that has brought great joy to the people of Herat. The revenue from its transit will greatly help in rebuilding Afghanistan.”
Resident Aminullah added:
“Many of our youth are unemployed, and this project, God willing, will benefit Herat and all provinces. We ask the Islamic Emirate to speed up its implementation even further.”
The TAPI pipeline stretches a total of 1,814 kilometers, transporting Turkmen gas through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India. The project is expected to reach Herat city by the end of this year, at which point Herat will also benefit from imported gas.
