Uzbekistan is actively implementing a number of big economic projects with Afghanistan recently, particularly in energy sector.
The power transmission line 220 was put into operation in May 2009 to transmit electricity from Uzbekistan to Kabul. By the end of the year Uzbekistan will export up to 300 MW of electricity from the current 150 MW. The project cost is US$128.4 million and is financed by the Islamic Development Bank. It is a kind of support to a new railway road, which bypasses Turkmenistan and runs only through the territory of Uzbekistan. Most part of cargoes are delivered by this railway to support troops of the international coalition in Afghanistan.
Uzbek railway company intends to implement a big project in December, reported 12.uz. The project will include rehabilitation of old rails, construction of new railway, supply of locomotives to Afghanistan, construction of cargo terminals and other railway infrastructure facilities.
In accordance with the memorandum of understanding on expansion of commercial and economic opportunities via development of railway infrastructure signed between the Governments of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and the Asian Development Bank is aimed to provide assistance in designing the railway Mazari-Sharif-Herat. Then the ring railway Mazari-Sharif-Kabul-Herat-Mazari-Sharif 2,000 km in length are due to be constructed. The ring railway will reduce the railway corridor from Europe to India, China, Iran and Pakistan. The construction of the ring railway will cost around US$3 billion.
