Kazakhstan is considering deeper involvement in major gas projects in Turkmenistan, signalling interest in both upstream development and cross-border export infrastructure as the region searches for new energy routes and partnerships.
According to Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry, the national gas company QazaqGaz remains in negotiations with Turkmenistan’s state energy group Turkmengaz over potential participation in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline, commonly known as TAPI.
The talks also cover possible cooperation on the development of the Galkynysh gas field, one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world. Officials say the discussions are confidential, underlining the sensitivity of both projects.
Kazakhstan’s interest in TAPI is not new. The country has previously indicated it is exploring the option of joining the project’s shareholder structure.
Energy Minister Yerlan Akkhenzhenov has confirmed that Kazakhstan is prepared to acquire up to a 30% stake in the pipeline.
QazaqGaz has already submitted its proposal and is now awaiting a response from the Turkmen side. The scale of the Galkynysh field, however, means any decision-making process is likely to be gradual, involving long-term commitments and complex negotiations.
The TAPI pipeline is designed to stretch 1814 kilometres from Turkmenistan to the Indian border, transporting up to 33 billion cubic metres of gas a year through Afghanistan and Pakistan to South Asia.
The project’s total cost is estimated at around $10 billion. At present, only the Turkmen section has been completed. Authorities in Ashgabat announced last year that construction had begun on Afghan territory, although progress beyond Turkmenistan remains limited.
Despite its strategic significance, the project continues to face unresolved challenges. Security risks linked to gas transit through Afghanistan remain a central concern for potential investors.
At the same time, uncertainty over gas pricing and long-term commercial terms has yet to be fully addressed, complicating efforts to attract additional partners.
Currently, Turkmengaz holds an 85% stake in the TAPI project. The remaining 15% is divided equally between Afghanistan’s Gas Corporation, Pakistan’s Inter State Gas Systems and India’s GAIL, each holding 5%.
The pipeline was officially launched in December 2015 during a ceremony attended by the leaders of all four participating countries, yet tangible progress has remained limited since then.
For Kazakhstan, potential involvement in TAPI and the Galkynysh field would represent a strategic move towards diversification of gas cooperation and access to South Asian markets.
However, as negotiations continue behind closed doors, the project remains a long-term regional ambition rather than an imminent breakthrough in Eurasian energy connectivity.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his governmen...
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations...
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United St...
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday. A mother and her two 3-year-old children were killed when a Russian drone strike hit a private home, the emergency service said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that additional news organisations could be barred from the White House, hours after announcing bans on CNN, MS NOW and Politico over coverage he described as “fake news”.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has cleared the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian in the West Bank in 2016.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
Uzbekistan’s grape exports have grown rapidly. In January-August 2025, the country exported 86,200 tonnes of fresh grapes worth $78.3 million to 19 countries but can it turn these crops into a recognisable international product?
The death toll in a suicide attack at a police compound in northwest Pakistan has reached 31, AFP reported on Saturday, citing a police official.
Azerbaijan has rejected France’s justification for advising its citizens against travel to the country, after Paris cited risks of arbitrary detention and unfair trials.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment