ISLAMABAD: Working Groups of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic are scheduled to meet at Almaty, Kazakhstan from January 30 to February 2 2012 to streamline the CASA-1000 Megawatt project which envisages the import electricity from central Asian countries via Afghanistan.
This was stated during a meeting held on Tuesday between Federal Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar and Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhailwal, Minister for Finance of Afghanistan to discuss cooperation between the two countries on electricity import.
According to a statement issued by Ministry of Water and Power, Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan and Tajikistan have been pursuing the development of electricity trade through the establishment of a Central Asia-South Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM). A Cross border transmission line project has been proposed for the construction of a dedicated link essentially aimed at supplying 1,300 MW of surplus hydropower available during the summer months from the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to Pakistan.
The project is expected to be completed at a total cost of $873 million and is expected to be commissioned in 2016.
After remaining dormant for three years, the project was revitalised this year when Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan signed an MOU at the IGC meeting at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on September 20, 2011. Under the Bishkek MOU, each country is required to establish a national Working Group dedicated to implement CASA-1000 project.
The next meeting of the Working Groups of the four countries is scheduled to be held at Almaty, Kazakhstan on 30 January to 2 February 2012. During the preparatory phase which is expected to last 12 to 18 months, the World Bank, IFC, Islamic Development Bank and USAID are providing financial and technical assistance.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2012.
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Dear colleagues from the World Bank, USAID, RESET ,IFC,IDB & the Kasaqstan Government Thanks for the conduction of such programs to speed up the CASA-1000 Project to be successfully implemented , The world today looks like a small village which needs regional cooperation regarding the energy markets and cultural relations , theses cooperations will intensify the peace and stability among the nations and would pave way for further cooperations . The role of all of you are admirable for Afghanistan's people . Afghan team remains committed to the resolutions taken in this gathering on 30th January 2012 up to 2nd Feb.2012 in Almai , Regards Eng.Habib Rahmat CASA-1000 Afghanistan Team member.
Thank you World Bank, IFC, Islamic Development Bank and USAID (USA) along with Russia for this project.