DUSHANBE, August 16, 2013, Asia-Plus – Implementation of the regional project aimed at transmitting surplus power available from existing generation facilities in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan was discussed here on August 15 at a meeting of Tajik Minister of Energy and Industry, Gul Sherali, with Afghan government delegation, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industry (MoEI) press center.

The Afghan delegation members included Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance Mr. Yama Shams, Director of the Afghan Railway Authority and Mr. Abdu Ghaffar Arzou, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Tajikistan.

The sides, in particular, discussed issues related to constructing the power transmission lines Tajikistan-Afghanistan and Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran as well as laying the gas pipeline From Afghan Shibirghan district (Jowzjan province) to Tajik Shahritous district (Khatlon province), the source noted.        

They noted that implementation of those projects met interests of both nations.

We will recall that to pursue the idea of Central Asia - South Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM), a concept for developing electricity trade among the countries of the two regions, four countries, including Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia and Afghanistan and Pakistan in South Asia, have agreed to develop the first project under CASAREM, with more than two countries involvement.  The project aims to establish the necessary transmission and trading infrastructure and systems to enable a trade of about 1300 MW of electricity between Central Asia and South Asia, and is referred to as CASA-1000.

The Project is expected to develop the necessary physical infrastructure and create the institutional and legal framework to transmit surplus power available from existing generation facilities in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The physical infrastructure for CASA 1000 is likely to include: a 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan; an AC transmission link from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to connect to the HVDC line from Tajikistan to South Asia;  and the necessary electricity sub-stations in Kabul, Peshawar and Sangtuda (in Tajikistan).

The direct implementation of the Project is expected to start at the beginning of the next year.

The World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank have reportedly expressed their readiness to finance the Project.  Besides, Russia expressed interest to invest 500 million U.S. dollars in the CASA 1000 project.