Afghanistan and Turkmenistan sign gas purchase MoU for TAPI pipeline
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Afghanistan and Turkmenistan signed a memorandum of understanding on gas purchases for the TAPI pipeline on Monday in Turghundi, Herat province. The agreement between Afghan Gas and TurkmenGas outlines plans to determine gas pricing, demand volumes, and distribution. The signing follows talks between Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar on energy and transport cooperation.
The Signing
Afghan state company Afghan Gas and Turkmenistan’s State Concern TurkmenGas signed the memorandum in Turghundi, Herat province, in the presence of Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar. The document, announced by Baradar’s office, commits both sides to determining a gas price, assessing demand volumes, and establishing distribution mechanisms. Baradar proposed adapting the pricing formula to minimize the impact of European market fluctuations and called for a long-term gas agreement with simple terms and a flexible contract review mechanism.
Broader Cooperation
Beyond the TAPI gas pipeline, the meeting covered regional transport links, including the Lazuli Corridor, transit of Afghan goods via Turkmenistan’s Turkmenbashi International Seaport, and the restoration and expansion of the Herat–Turghundi railway line. The two sides agreed to form a technical committee led by senior officials to coordinate the implementation of TAPI, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power project, fiber-optic communication lines, and railway infrastructure. This committee is tasked with ensuring timely progress on these interlinked projects.
What's Next
The newly established technical committee is expected to begin coordinating TAPI, TAP, fiber-optic, and railway projects in the coming weeks. It remains unclear whether the parties will agree on a long-term gas pricing formula that insulates against European market fluctuations, a key request from Kabul.
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Afghanistan and Turkmenistan sign gas purchase MoU for TAPI pipeline
