India's Pursuit of Energy Security by Sharma Ashok;

Author:Sharma, Ashok;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sage Publications India Pvt, Ltd -- eBooks

Figure 4.3 TAPI Gas Pipeline Routes

Source: Manish Vaid (2016)

The starting point for the proposed 48-inch diameter and 1635 km long pipeline is from Daulatabad gas field in Turkmenistan which would then traverse through Herat, Kandahar, Quetta and Multan before reaching India. The TAPI once realized will supply 0.6 bcf of gas to Pakistan and 1.6 bcf to India, with an estimated cost of gas about $2.4–$3 per Middle Market Banking Unit (MMBU). India would get 1341.78 million cubic feet gas per day. The pipeline project could help India’s move towards the gas-based economy and achieve its affordable and environmentally acceptable energy security goal. Supported by the ADB, the 1600-km US$10 billion (AUD$13 billion) pipeline is the largest multilateral energy project to date undertaken in South Asia.

Recently, India’s interest in the pipeline began to resurface. In 2014, Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif also expressed Pakistan’s willingness to work towards the completion of TAPI gas pipeline project. The Turkmenistan section of the TAPI gas pipeline began in December 2015. On 23 February 2018, India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with the heads of Government of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan attended the inaugural ceremony of the gas pipeline construction in the Afghan province of Herat. India’s effort to finalize the gas pipeline agreement has been slow mainly due to its security concerns and hence so far, the progress has been slow.

But TAPI, once in operation, is expected to be beneficial to all. It would bring revenue for Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, and help Pakistan address its energy security challenges. Given Pakistan’s energy security challenges, it is too serious about the success of TAPI. Pakistan has been facing the challenge of addressing its gas deficit. Natural gas in Pakistan is consumed for domestic and commercial purposes, as well as for electricity generation. The domestic natural gas production in Pakistan is around 4 bcf per day (bcfd) but the demand is around 6 bcfd. On top of that, the gas production capacity is expected to fall to less than 1 bcfd by 2025 as gas reserves will be exhausted, whereas demand is expected to increase to 8 bcfd. In the recent election, energy security became an important issue. Thus, the success of TAPI is significant for Pakistan’s energy security as well. A fully operational TAPI would bring Afghanistan transit revenue and natural gas and pave the way for further regional connectivity and help Afghanistan to attain its true potential as a regional trade and transit hub, connecting Central Asia with South Asia and the Middle East (Rahim 2018). In the post-9/11 world, India’s foreign policy has given a significant focus to enhance ties with Afghanistan. Its diplomacy has paved the way for a sound India–Afghanistan strategic partnership which is reflected in a range of sectors including growing security ties. Any attempt by Pakistan to disrupt the TAPI pipeline going to India would affect Pakistan as well given India’s close ties with Afghanistan.

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