The first consignment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPGP) from Turkmenistan arrived in Pakistan for the first time via Afghanistan's Kandahar province, The News (Pakistan) reports.
The South Asian country is facing a severe energy shortage and the shipments were made under a deal for LPGP import at the rate of 25% less price than the LPGP being imported from Iran.
"Officials said the fuel coming from Turkmenistan is much better in quality compared to Iranian gas," the information said.
The paper said the deal would enhance Pakistan's energy security by diversifying energy sources.
Kandahar Customs Chief Maulvi Muhammad Hamid Ahmad, meanwhile, confirmed that a 50-tanker cargo shipment had reached Spin Boldak, which would be sent to Pakistan after clearance.
He said there would be no hurdle in transportation of gas to Pakistan from Central Asia through Afghanistan transit route.
Turkmenistan is one of the region's key natural-gas suppliers, having exported gas to China, Russia, Azerbaijan (via Iran) and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan's main hope is the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. It started being built in December 2015, but the ambitious project is being discussed from scratch in August 2021, following a change of power in Kabul.
The project is being implemented by TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd (TPCL), which includes state-owned Turkmengaz, the Afghan Gas Corporation, India's GAIL and Pakistan's Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited.
The TAPI pipeline will have a total length of about 1,840km with a capacity of 33bn cubic metres of gas per year. The project was previously lobbied for by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is now awaiting UN recognition of the new government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Credits: Eziz Boyarov, Ashgabat
Comments (0)