Nine countries in Central and West Asia have signed a historic declaration that will accelerate cross-border cooperation on energy issues and move the region a step closer to the creation of a regional energy market.
The 10-point declaration signed by energy ministers and leaders from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan at the end of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Energy Ministers’ Dialogue in Tashkent on September 20 provides for creation of a reliable, stable and developing energy market and joint trade in electricity.
In a statement delivered at the CAREC energy investment forum in Tashkent, Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Usmonali Usmonzoda, noted on September 20 that Central Asia’s nations with involvement of Afghanistan and Pakistan will be able to create a unified power grid on certain mutually beneficial conditions during three or four years.
According to him, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan intend to join the Central Asian unified power grid within the next three years.
“For this, large projects are being implemented in the region under support of international financial institutions,” Tajik minister stressed.
He, in particular, mentioned implementation of the CASA 1000 and TUTAP projects.
Usmonzoda also noted that work on connecting power systems of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan is being carried out under financial support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Uzbekistan waits for Tajikistan
Meanwhile, Uzbek Deputy Minister of Energy, Sherzod Khojayev, told reporters in Tashkent on September 20 that Uzbekistan has been taking efforts to connect Tajikistan to the unified power ring.
Khojayev noted that work on construction of power transmission line between Guzar (Uzbekistan) and Regar (Tajikistan) substations will start this year under financial support of ADB.
Recall, Central Asia’s nations have repeatedly stated the necessity of resurrection of Central Asia’s unified power grid in recent years. Tajikistan has repeatedly said that Uzbekistan is also interested in restoration of the Central Asian unified power grid.
Kazakhstan suspended its participation in the Central Asian unified power grid in February 2009 and redirected electricity supplies for domestic use. Kazakhstan’s national energy network (KEGOK) said in a statement on February 26, 2009 that extra electricity exports to Tajikistan, for example, led to power outages in southern Kazakhstan.
Uzbekistan officially left the Soviet-era regional power grid that united the country with its three Central Asian neighbors in December 2009.
Tajik authorities that time criticized Uzbekistan’s decision as an effort to put pressure on neighbors. The move left Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan facing severe electricity shortages during the winter months.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan (MoEWR), Tajik power system is fully prepared for operation in parallel with the Central Asian unified power grid. Tajikistan is reportedly ready to supply electricity to neighboring countries. Today the only problem is that Uzbekistan has dismantled the 500 kV power transmission line from the Guzar substation in its territory to the Regar substation in Tajikistan, Tajik power engineering specialists say..
Afghanistan waits for Central Asian electricity
Meanwhile, acting Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, Mohammad Humayun Qayumi, noted that the Afghan side proposed to create a single center in Pul-i Khumri for receiving electric power from all Central Asia’s nations.
According to him, some international financial institutions have agreed to finance creation of such a center.
