DUSHANBE, January 11, 2013, Asia-Plus — Issues related to implementation of local and regional energy projects were a major topic of a meeting of Tajik Minister of energy and Industries Gul Sherali with Mr. C. C. Yu, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Tajikistan that took place here on January 10, according to the Ministry of energy and Industries (MoEI).
In the course of the talks, Tajik minister reportedly asked the ADB to participate in the Central Asia-South Asia Regional Energy and Trade (CASA-1000) project.
Gul Sherali, in particular, noted that an official letter of invitation on behalf of energy ministers of four countries participating in the project was sent to the Bank, the source at a MoEI said.
For his part, Mr. C. C. Yu noted that improvement of energy infrastructure is one of priorities of ADB’s activities, the source noted.
The ADB country director reportedly suggested that under conditions of power shortages Tajikistan is experiencing during autumn-winter period, the Tajik government should focus on development of the thermal power plants.
The two also discussed implementation of the renewable energy project. Mr. C. C. Yu noted that the Bank is ready to provide a US$20 million grant for installation of solar collectors in mountain regions of Tajikistan, the source noted.
According to him, the ADB has positively solved the issue of providing grant for modernization of the Golovnaya hydropower plant with capacity of 240 megawatts, which is located on the Vakhsh River.
We will recall that the objective of the CASA-1000 project is to promote electricity exports from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The project outcome will be measured by the amount of electricity (in kilo Watt hours) exported through the transmission system to be constructed under the project. The CASA 1000 Project would comprise: a) around 750 km High Voltage Direct Current (DC) transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan via Afghanistan; b) a DC to Alternate Current (AC) converter station in Kabul to supply Kabul area; c) an AC transmission link between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to supply Kyrgyz electricity to South Asia via Tajikistan; and d) the concomitant institutional and legal framework to enable such electricity trade.
