Transafghan Pipeline Project Discussed in Ashgabat

ASHGABAT. May 30 (Interfax) – The first session of the technical groups of the countries taking part in the Transafghan pipeline project is being held in Ashgabat.

Among the meeting participants are the deputy oil and gas ministers of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the heads of the Indian company GAIL, and also representatives of the Asian Development Bank, which is the main sponsor of this project, the Turkmen media have reported.

“During the negotiations at the level of experts, the parties continued to discuss a whole range of issues, primarily those connected to the gas price. The meeting participants agreed that the price on fuel should be formed with regard to the situation on the world energy market,” the media said.

“Following its position to sell gas solely on its border, Turkmenistan made appropriate amendments to the draft framework agreement, which will be submitted to the governments of the participating countries,” the reports said.

The decision to build a pipeline connecting Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan was made by the project participants in 2002. India joined the project in 2007.

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