Kickoff of Afghanistan-Turkmenistan Pipeline Sparks Economic Hope

Construction of the Afghanistan section of a natural gas pipeline connecting Turkmenistan with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India has begun. Initially slated for completion in 2018, the project faced numerous delays due to security issues. The pipeline is expected to supply 33 billion cubic meters of gas annually and generate substantial income and jobs.

Top officials from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan celebrated the beginning of the Afghanistan segment of a natural gas pipeline on Wednesday. The project aims to connect Turkmenistan's vast gas reserves with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

Initially set to be completed in 2018, the Afghanistan section's construction was repeatedly delayed due to security concerns. Only the Turkmenistan section is finished so far. The Wednesday ceremony marked the welding of the first joint of the 100-kilometer pipeline section extending from Turkmenistan to Herat, attended by Afghan Prime Minister Hassan Akhund, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdymukhamedov, and his predecessor and father, Gurbanguly.

Once operational, the pipeline will supply 33 billion cubic meters of gas annually. Turkmenistan, boasting the fourth-largest gas reserves globally, seeks to diversify its clients beyond its current main customer, China, following the loss of its Russian gas market. According to the government newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan, the project and its ancillary efforts will create 12,000 jobs in Afghanistan and generate over $1 billion in annual revenue.

(With inputs from agencies.)