ADB: TAP line feasible; field study due

Jan. 21, 2005
Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s recent feasibility study for the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) natural gas pipeline has shown the $3 billion project to be economically and technically feasible, according to ADB Director Marshuk Ali Shah.

By an OGJ correspondent

KARACHI, Jan. 21 -- Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s recent feasibility study for the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) natural gas pipeline has shown the $3 billion project to be economically and technically feasible, according to ADB Director Marshuk Ali Shah.

Shah said ADB would submit the study to the three-nation steering committee meeting in Islamabad next month to discuss a course of action for implementing the project.

The 1,700 km TAP system would transport 1.5-2 bcfd of gas from Daulatabad gas field in Turkmenistan to Gwadar, Pakistan, via Afghanistan (OGJ Online, Aug. 28, 2003).

In addition to the pipeline, ADB also has proposed that Pakistan use the capacity of its depleting gas fields for underground storage to ensure an uninterrupted gas supply. A separate study being conducted by ADB on natural gas storage in Pakistan will be available in 2-3 months. Shah said storage equal to 2-3 months of supply would be needed.

Turkmenistan, through an American consultant, is completing an audit of Daulatabad gas field and expects to have a report available for the committee meeting. Pakistan earlier had linked the project to certification of Daulatabad gas reserves.

Shah said Pakistan will need to begin importing gas by 2008-09.