Solid step: CASA-1000 agreement inked in Istanbul

Pakistan to receive 1,000MW, Afghanistan to get 300MW.


Our Correspondent December 04, 2014

ISLAMABAD: A hydel energy agreement between Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan was signed in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The project, known as the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000), will help export 1,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to Pakistan at a price of 9.35 cents including all the charges.

Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif led the Pakistani delegation while Tajikistan delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Afghan and Kyrgyz delegations were led by their respective energy ministers.

Although conceived long ago, the government took the initiative to expedite the project and convened a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Council of CASA-1000 in September 2013 in Islamabad that discussed various aspects of the project.

Subsequent follow-up consultations led to the conclusion of the agreement in Istanbul.

The CASA-1000 project is expected to be completed by 2018 under the umbrella of the World Bank. Tajikistan’s share in the energy export will be 70%, while Kyrgyzstan will export 30%.

Afghanistan will consume 300MW of the exported energy while Pakistan will receive 1,000MW electricity. It is hoped that the project will boost energy trade in the region that will lead to sustainable development.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th,  2014.

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COMMENTS (1)

Farrukh | 9 years ago | Reply

This is a step forward to boost non-traditional trade with Central Asia. Integrating Afghanistan in the scheme will enhance mutual dependence and an important way to normalize relations. Next step TAPI gas pipeline project.

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