Pakistan has proposed a new arrangement that would allow the country to gain Turkmenistan gas supplies through the Iran and Pakistan gas pipeline instead of relying on volatile Afghanistan as a transit route.

The swap arrangement will be reviewed by a team of experts in the scheduled meeting on TAPI gas pipeline project from September 15th to 20th 2010 in Ashgabat of Turkmenistan. Under the proposed arrangement, the agreed volume of gas imports between Pakistan and Turkmenistan will be supplied to northern regions of Iran in exchange of which Iran will supply equivalent gas volume through the IP pipeline to Pakistan.

Pakistan has asked Turkmenistan to submit certification of gas reserves. The meeting of experts would sort out technical issues regarding the TAPI gas pipeline project and hopefully reach a conclusive decision by December end.

Pakistan has been facing crippling energy shortages that have starved the domestic as well as industrial users. The country places high importance on gas imports through Iran, a plan which had originally also included India. Pakistan also wants progress on the other Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India gas pipeline project to be swift through resolution of institutional and bilateral matters.

Pakistan has made active steps in recent years to step up efforts for energy security. The country has signed plans with friendly countries such as Turkmenistan and Iran which are known to have huge deposits of natural gas. By improving bilateral contacts, Pakistan could reap benefits from vast imported natural resources and technical expertise of these countries.

(Sourced from www.petroleumbazaar.com)