DUSHANBE, April 27, 2015, Asia-Plus — A meeting of the Inter-Governmental Council of CASA-1000 Project Signatories that took place in Istanbul, Turkey on April 24 resulted in signing of a number of agreements.
An official source at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) says Tajikistan was represented at the meeting by Minister of Energy and Water Resources Usmonali Usmonzoda, Minister of Finance Abdusalom Qurboniyon, Barqi Tojik Head Rustam Rahmatzoda and Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources Jamshed Shoimov.
The general agreement and the power purchase agreements between economic entities of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan were signed. Besides, a grant agreement of 45 million U.S. dollars was signed between Tajikistan and the International Development Association (IDA) was signed, the source added.
The Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade (Casa-1000) Project is designed to transmit 1,300 MW of surplus electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The project is reportedly scheduled for completion by 2018 under the umbrella of the World Bank. Tajikistan’s share in electricity export will be 70% while Kyrgyzstan will contribute 30% of supplies. Afghanistan will consume 300MW of exported electricity while Pakistan will get 1,000MW. The project is expected to give a boost to energy trade in the region, leading to sustainable development.
Meanwhile,
The Express Tribune
(Pakistan) reported on April 14 that in addition to CASA-1000, Pakistan and Tajikistan are set to study prospects of supplying another 1,000MW by laying a transmission line to Chitral in northern areas in an effort to put to use surplus energy and help Islamabad mitigate its energy crisis.
