Turkmenistan plans to begin natural gas supplies through the Afghan section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline in 2027. Maksаt Babayev, State Minister and Chairman of the State Concern Turkmengas, reported during a plenary session of the Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2026 (OGT 2026) international conference in Ashgabat.
TAPI is an international gas pipeline designed to deliver Turkmen natural gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. According to Babayev, the pipeline has a designed capacity of up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Turkmengas is currently constructing the Afghan section of the pipeline from Serhetabat to Herat and the work is proceeding according to schedule.
Babayev noted that the project is viewed not only as energy infrastructure but also as a means of promoting economic cooperation and strengthening regional connectivity. On Aug. 10, during a working visit by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen People, to Afghanistan’s Herat province, Turkmengas and the state-owned Afghan Gas company signed a memorandum on gas cooperation, including gas supplies to the province.
Turkmenistan continues to diversify its export routes to the east, south and west in line with government policy, according to Babayev. He added that the country acts as a neutral state and remains a reliable and predictable partner that fulfills its commitments.
Babayev also noted that the efficiency of energy companies increasingly depends on digital technologies, automation and intelligent control systems. In this regard, Turkmengas is interested in expanding cooperation with international technology companies with advanced expertise in automation, digital modeling, intelligent field management and specialist training.
