Turkmenistan-India pipeline pact nearing conclusion

After more than a year's wait, the 3.5 billion $ Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, which rivals a similar line from Iran, is likely to move ahead next month with officials of the four nations meeting in Islamabad to seal a draft pact.

The meeting of Steering Committee of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project will be held in Islamabad on August 22-23, top officials said.

New Delhi had in June last year communicated its intent of joining the project but has not been officially included in the project as the Steering Committee could not meet.

The meeting in Islamabad, that comes close on the heels of US and India signing civilian nuclear cooperation pact, will discuss draft Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement and also the gas that Turkmenistan can export to the three nations.

US is opposed to India and Pakistan importing natural gas from Iran through a 7-billion dollar pipeline and has been backing TAPI as an alternative to meet the growing energy needs of the two neighbours.

Officials said earlier doubts had been expressed on the gas reserves in the Central Asian nation and India had asked for a third party certification to back the export pipeline.

After Turkmenistan presents reserve estimates, India and Pakistan would indicate the quantity of gas they wish to import, the official said.

TAPI is expected to transport 100 million standard cubic meters per day of gas, of which India's share at best is likely to be 60 mmscmd.