Turkmenistan expands energy infrastructure and TAPI pipeline progress

Turkmenistan is planning to construct a massive underground gas storage facility with an annual injection capacity of up to 5 billion cubic meters. Announced by TurkmenGas official Zerbay Bikjanov, the project aims to enhance grid stability, manage seasonal demand fluctuations, and create strategic reserves to ensure a reliable supply for consumers.

In addition to the storage facility, TurkmenGas intends to build two new gas compression stations, named ‘Shatlyk’ and ‘Karakum’, to replace existing facilities. The company is also prioritizing the modernization of gas preparation and purification systems, upgrading pipeline reliability, and implementing digital technologies for equipment monitoring.

Regarding the TAPI gas pipeline, construction progress is being reported in Afghanistan. The Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum stated that approximately 150 kilometers of the route are ready for pipe installation, with over 134 kilometers of service roads and 125 kilometers of railway lines already constructed. While some officials expect the Afghan sections in Herat to be completed by the end of 2026, TurkmenGas leadership has indicated that gas transmission through the Afghan section of the TAPI pipeline could begin as early as this year.