Building a Case for the Trans-Afghan Gas Corridor Timely
response to their ever growing energy needs is key to India’s
and Pakistan’s economic and social stability. Until present,
India, and to a lesser extent Pakistan, have been relatively
successful in coping with their energy needs. However, if
additional energy supplies in particular for electricity
generation are not available soon their prospects for economic
growth will be undermined. Even today energy shortfalls are
depressing India’s and Pakistan’s average GDP growth rate by 3 –
4 % annually. Natural gas is rapidly gaining importance in India
and Pakistan as a key component of energy mix, particularly in
electricity generation. Gas – based power is significantly
cheaper than electricity produced by fuel oil or diesel. Gas-
fired power turbines are flexible and can quickly respond to
peak demand. They are also cheaper to build than those of
hydropower dams, nuclear-power stations and even coal-fired
plants. Green energy such as wind and solar energy wi