India to join Turkmenistan gas pipeline

Ahead of a visit by US President George Bush next month, India has decided to join the US-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP)pipeline to import natural gas to meet the fuel needs of its growing economy.

New Delhi earlier this month participated for the first time as an “observer” in the 9th meeting of the steering committee of the TAP project and has since decided to join the US$3.5-billion project. “We have 90 days to get necessary official approvals to join the project. Once approved by the cabinet, the project will be renamed TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline),” Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said. Officials said the

pipeline from Turkmenistan would be easier to implement than the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI)line as it already had the backing of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Asia Times