August 4, 2026: Turkmenistan's government has reviewed progress on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline and reaffirmed plans to expand hydrocarbon production as part of its strategy to boost energy exports and regional cooperation.

According to a statement released Sunday by the state-owned oil concern Turkmennebit, the issues were discussed during a government meeting on the performance of the country's oil and gas sector during the first seven months of 2026.

Senior officials from Turkmennebit, Turkmengaz, Turkmengeology and TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd., along with executives from sectoral associations and enterprises, presented reports on production and development activities.

The government said particular attention was given to construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the TAPI pipeline, which links Turkmenistan with neighboring Afghanistan.

"Particular attention was paid to construction of the main Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline in compliance with international standards," the statement said.

Officials also outlined priorities for the energy sector, including expanding geological exploration, increasing production drilling to identify new hydrocarbon deposits, boosting oil and natural gas output, and improving the quality of extracted resources.

The approximately 1,800-kilometer (1,120-mile) TAPI pipeline is designed to transport up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Turkmenistan's Galkynysh gas field through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India. Turkmenistan has long promoted the project as a key route for diversifying its gas exports and strengthening regional economic integration.

The pipeline's gas supplies are expected to come from the Galkynysh field, one of the world's largest natural gas deposits, with estimated reserves exceeding 27 trillion cubic meters.

In April, Turkmengaz and China's CNPC launched the fourth phase of Galkynysh's development, a project that includes new production facilities and additional wells expected to increase commercial gas production by up to 10 billion cubic meters annually.

(Source: Kabul Tribune)