PROJECT > TRANS ASEAN GAS PIPELINE PROJECT (TAGP)
TRANS ASEAN GAS PIPELINE PROJECT (TAGP)
Publish - 10/06/2019

One of the most significant initiatives of ASCOPE, the Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) Project is envisioned to “establish interconnecting arrangements of electricity and natural gas in ASEAN” to ensure greater security and sustainability of energy supply in the region.

A TAGP Masterplan has been prepared and this serves as the blue print and/or plan of action in undertaking the gas pipeline project in the region. To date, 13 bilateral connections have already been established with a total of 3,631 kilometers of pipeline connections making possible the transmission of gas molecules to and from ASCOPE Member Countries or Member States. ASCOPE has likewise started working on developing the necessary regulatory framework such as open access, gas transit principle and gas specification harmonization aimed at facilitating the implementation of the TAGP Project. The completion of the pipeline from Block B17 in Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area to Kerteh, Terengganu in April 2015 represents the 13th bilateral interconnection of the TAGP, increasing the length of cross border gas pipelines to 3,673 km. Currently, the connections are bilateral in nature, with pipelines linking Singapore-Malaysia, Myanmar-Thailand, West Natuna-Singapore, West Natuna-Duyong, South Sumatra-Singapore, Malaysia-Thailand, and Singapore-Malaysia. The ultimate aim is to have multilateral pipeline projects. Following an assessment of its strategic direction in 2012, the focus of TAGP Project now includes liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an option for gas supply in the region, especially for countries that physical pipelines may not be economic, whereby LNG would be supplied to regional regasification terminals (RGTs) acting as virtual pipelines. Currently, the operationalisation of nine (9) Regasification Terminals (RGTs) in 5 countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, Myanmar). The current total capacity for regas terminal is 38.75 MTPA. While there are several challenges at hand such as shortage of gas sources, huge investment requirements (for the infrastructure needed), among others, ASCOPE Member Countries have been closely working to address the same in the spirit of cooperation and synergy.

The TAGP Project is already taking its shape with the completed gas pipeline interconnections shown on the attached map.