Starting news article english 29 May 2012

Clifford Chance advises on agreements for TAPI pipeline project

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on a number of agreements in relation to the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan to India (TAPI) pipeline project. The recent signings of long term gas sales agreements between Turkmenistan and India and Turkmenistan and Pakistan as well as the gas sales memorandum of understandings between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan paves the way for the next stage of this strategic regional project: the development of this 1,043 mile pipeline from Turkmenistan to India.

Partner Merrick White who led the deal said, "This is one of the largest gas sales in the world to date. It opens up a major new export route for Turkmenistan which has enormous gas reserves. It provides a tremendous source of energy for such energy-starved countries as Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, and at the same time is a significant long term source of revenue for Turkmenistan."

Merrick was assisted by Beijing counsel Brian Cassidy.

The team helped prepare and negotiate the Gas Sales, Pipeline Framework and Inter-Governmental agreements for the project. Under the gas sales agreements India and Pakistan would each get about 490 billion cubic feet of natural gas from the pipeline each year, while Afghanistan will get about 180 billion cubic feet per year.