Russian gas giant Gazprom may participate in a consortium to build the trans-Afghanistan (TAPI) gas pipeline for the transfer of Turkmen gas to Pakistan and India, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said on Friday.
"We are discussing new projects, including Gazprom's possible participation in the TAPI pipeline project," Sechin told reporters after discussions with Gazprom's Turkmen partners.
The TAPI project, first put forward in 1995, was promoted by Turkmenistan's late leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, in the early 2000s.
It secured strong support from Washington after a U.S.-led offensive ended the Taliban's five-year rule over Afghanistan in 2001.
Turkmenistan and Afghanistan signed an agreement on the construction of the pipeline in August.
TURKMENBASHI, Turkmenistan, Oct 22 (RIA Novosti)
