nCa News and Commentary
Ashgabat, 5 July 2014 (nCa) — The Technical Working Group of TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project) will meet in Ashgabat, 6-7 July 2014. This would be followed by the meeting of the Steering Committee, 8-18 July 2014.
The agenda covers several important issues including the refining of the roadmap, creation of the consortium TAPI Ltd., choice of consortium leader, transit of gas and other questions.
The Technical Project Agreement and sale agreements may come under review.
The appraisal of a report by ADB in its role as transactional advisor for TAPI is also on the agenda.
DPM Khojamuhammedov (oil and gas) briefed the cabinet meeting Friday on the upcoming TAPI meetings.
President Berdymuhamedov said that TAPI will not only bring economic benefits to the participating countries but it will also serve as a true bridge for friendship, good neighbourliness and fruitful partnership.
He added that the project will bring consolidate stability in the Central and South Asian region and strengthen the political and economic relations in the continent.
nCa Commentary
It is the American meddling that has delayed TAPI for so long. The project, on its own merit, would have taken off long ago.
The two road shows to put together the TAPI were blatantly sabotaged by the American government and oil majors.
The IP (Iran-Pakistan) gas pipeline, which is not in competition with TAPI, is being torpedoes every which way just to punish Iran.
Even though several responsible corporate citizens have long been interested in TAPI, the project is facing the barriers created by the United States to push its favourite bullies – ExxonMobil and Chevron – to the lead position.
Quite possibly, the decision-making process may already have turned the crucial bend and ExxonMobil and Chevron – either or both – could emerge as consortium leader within the next few days.
We have sounded the alarm earlier and for the sake of record would like to say again that the involvement of any American company in TAPI would be a hazardous baggage, with lingering and painful costs for the region.
ExxonMobil and Chevron have a shoddy environmental track record and checkered history of political meddling in host nations. It will be potentially harmful for Turkmenistan to let these companies lay their greedy hands on its mainland fields.