By an OGJ Correspondent
KARACHI, July 9 -- The pre-qualification process for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan natural gas pipeline project (TAP) has been put on hold, while studies are carried out, according to an ADB communiqué. Present information available on the project is not enough to enable the sponsor to put in binding proposals, said ADB.
At a recent meeting in Ashgabat June 25-26, an ADB steering committee decided that the studies would include a route survey for the southern route through Herat, Kandahar in Afgnistan and Quetta and Multan in Pakistan, an estimate of reserves in Dauletabad gas fields in Turkmenistan, and finalization of the host country agreement and the gas sales and purchase agreements, and the gas transportation agreement. The steering committee, comprising oil and gas ministers from the three countries, was formed in May 2002 to oversee TAP.
A number of companies have shown interest in prequalifying for construction and operation of the pipeline, according to Seethapathy Chander, director of the ADB's Private Sector Infrastructure Finance Division.
The proposed $2.5 billion gas pipeline would transport as much as 30 billion cu m per year of natural gas from the Dauletabad fields in southeast Turkmenistan to consumers in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and possibly India (OGJ Online, July 9, 2003).
It has significant potential to improve stability and raise living standards in South and Central Asia.
In July 2002, ADB was invited to its first meeting in Ashgabat, and was requested to play the role of lead development partner and help prepare the feasibility study. ADB has since been involved in developing and processing the project and in December 2002 approved a $1 million technical assistance grant for the feasibility study.