Trend quotes Eurasian Energy Futures Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Micha’el Tanchum on the benefits of the completion of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline project:
The implementation of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project would represent an enormous breakthrough for Turkmenistan’s capabilities as an international energy player, US energy analyst believes.
“TAPI would dispel many of the doubts cast upon Turkmenistan about its capability and will to do more than deliver gas to its borders,” Micha’el Tanchum, Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center in Washington told Trend.
He noted that Turkmenistan has already shifted because the changing international landscape, particularly the prospect of a post-sanctions Iran.
Tanchum expects that there will be no more delays in the TAPI project implementation and the construction of the Turkmen section will begin in December, in line with Turkmenistan’s plans, and this will be an important milestone.
He also noted that in spite of the security problems in the transit countries, which many experts see as a main obstacle for TAPI implementation, the pipeline can be adequately protected, given sufficient monetary expenditure on pipeline security as well as sufficient cooperation from the national governments along the route.
“Questions remains as to whether the necessary resources will be dedicated to this purpose,” Tanchum said.