Lok Sabha Question No. 3874 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: TAPI Pipeline
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3874 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2018

## TAPI PIPELINE

## 3874. SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

## पैट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

Will  the  Minister  of  PETROLEUM  AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state :

- a) whether India has participated  in  the  ground-breaking  ceremony  for  TAPI pipeline in Afghanistan recently to mark the beginning of formal round of talks amongst the participating countries on the said pipeline and if so, the details thereof along with the present status of the project;
- b) whether  the  terms  of  the  commercial  contracts  are  yet  to  be  negotiated among the participating countries and if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether  India's  participation  in  the  project  has  been  lacklustre  due  to Pakistan's  involvement  ever  since  the  project  was  envisaged  and  the Government seems to be pondering over the strategy on its participation in the project;
- d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- e) whether  the  security  issues  were  also  discussed  during  the  summit/said ceremony and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पैट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) The Ground breaking Ceremony for Afghan leg of TAPI pipeline was held on  23 rd February,  2018  at  Serhetabad,  Turkmenistan.    The  ceremony  was attended by Presidents of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, Prime Minister of Pakistan and Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs of India.

During the ceremony all four countries  reiterated their  commitment to  the TAPI Pipeline Project.  The  TAPI  Pipeline  Company  Limited (TPCL)  was incorporated in 2014. The 25 th Steering Committee meeting was also held at Mary,  Turkmenistan  and  TPCL  informed  that  progress  on  the  project, including engaging of M/s ILF Beratende Ingenieure for Project Management  and  FEED  Consultancy  Services  for  the Afghanistan -Pakistan  section  of  the  Pipeline.  The  FEED  Contract  inauguration  in Pakistan  portion  of  the  pipeline  was  held  on  03 rd March,  2017.  Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Transaction Advisor (TA) of the Project, has appointed M/s Penspen, UK, for preliminary Technical Feasibility Study.

- (b) The  Share  Holders  Agreement  of  TPCL  was  signed  by  the  four  member countries  on  13 th December  2015  with  Turkmenistan  85%,  India  5%, Pakistan 5% and Afghanistan 5% Shareholding.
- (c) & (d) The Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan (TAP) project was announced in  May  2002.    India  joined  the  consortium  in  2008.    In  2014,  TPCL  was incorporated. All the four countries are committed for the completion of the TAPI Project.    During  the  23 rd February  2018  ground  breaking  ceremony held at Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border, India reaffirmed its commitment to the project.
- (e) As per the Inter-Governmental Agreement, signed on 11 th December 2010 among  the  four  participating  countries,  the  Parties  have  guaranteed  the security and safety of that part of the TAPI Pipeline crossing their respective territories.

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