Afghanistan Will Begin Direct Purchases of Turkmen Gas
The Turkmengas state concern and the Afghan Gas corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Torghundi border crossing in Herat Province. The ceremony took place on Monday, August 10, in the presence of National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar.
This document details the agreements contained in the TAPI gas pipeline project, laying the commercial and infrastructural foundation for the commencement of direct supplies of Turkmen natural gas to Afghan consumers.
According to the Memorandum, the parties agreed to jointly build specialized gas distribution and network infrastructure in Herat Province.
Direct supplies from Turkmenistan are planned to provide local industrial enterprises, power plants, residential buildings, and social facilities with environmentally friendly fuel.
According to the Afghan news agency Ariana News, citing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan, the memorandum lays out the basic mechanisms for the practical use of gas. Specifically, the document regulates purchase volumes, the fuel distribution procedure within the Afghan energy system, and the pricing formula.
The practical outcome of the high-level negotiations was an agreement to establish a special technical committee led by senior officials from the two countries. The new body will assume direct oversight of the implementation of a comprehensive package of strategic initiatives: the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, the TAP power transmission line, the development of a fiber-optic communication line, and rail transport projects.
The creation of a joint technical committee will enable the prompt resolution of emerging organizational and engineering challenges, ensuring the systematic and more effective progress of all key projects.
