Gas pipeline in Afghanistan.
I received the following email communication today from the Acting Director of Public Affairs
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) Alex Bronstein-Moffly concerning the Department of Defense (DoD) Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO).
It read as follows:
“Dear Mr. Tilford,
Today, SIGAR released two letters concerning DOD’s Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO).
The first letter notes that SIGAR has received troubling allegations related to TFBSO practices involving imprudent spending, profligate travel by employees and contractors, and possible mismanagement. Between the beginning of its operations in Afghanistan in 2010 and March 2013, TFBSO spent nearly $700 million.
Letter: http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/Special%20Projects/SP-15-23.pdf
The second letter raises safety concerns relating to a natural gas pipeline in northern Afghanistan, Sheberghan-Mazar, that has suffered years of corrosion and that TFBSO has helped to repair. The letters notes the USAID and Embassy officials have expressed reservations about TFBSO and Afghan Gas Enterprise (AGE)’s Sheberghan-Mazar pipeline project. The officials expressed concern that AGE would not be able to complete the pipeline’s rehabilitation before TFBSO ceased operations in Afghanistan on November 21, 2014. The officials stated that, by leaving AGE to complete the work without TFBSO assistance, the Afghan government would likely blame the U.S. if a catastrophic failure occurs along the pipeline.
Letter: http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/alerts/SIGAR-15-15-AL.pdf
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any more information or have any additional questions.
Best,
Alex”
See related document regarding the development of Afghanistan’s natural gas pipeline project http://image.slidesharecdn.com/0601031businessopportunitiesinafganistan-140324111223-phpapp01/95/0601031-business-opportunities-in-afganistandoc-29-638.jpg?cb=1395677563
See also: Implications of gas deal http://image.slidesharecdn.com/khondkarintrotooilandgasinitial113333-130403020207-phpapp02/95/an-introduction-to-petroleum-mineral-resources-of-afghanistan-24-638.jpg?cb=1364972846
See related video: Pipeline Wars – Syria, Iran Afghanistan – Natural Gas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqf8EFT2BF4