ISLAMABAD: If India decides not to participate in the $10 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas line project, Pakistan’s senior authorities are considering abandoning it, according to officials.
Without India, the transnational project would become TAP, which would no longer be viable for Pakistan. According to officials, “a few days ago, one of the top men of the Petroleum Division informed the [General Headquarters] GHQ that India’s response to the project is very lukewarm.” In addition to the $7.5 per mmbtu gas price, Pakistan would have to pay a $500 million annual transit cost in the absence of India.
They stated that Turkmenistan’s gas prices would be higher than the pricey RLNG price, resulting in the nation having to spend $5 billion annually.
