Launch of CASA-1000 power grid project between Central and South Asia

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will provide electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan. It will cost 1.2 billion dollars and will be completed by 2018. All contractor-countries stand to benefit economically and ensure regional stability. The power supply to Pakistan will avoid blackouts in the summer, causing hundreds of victims among the population.

 

Dushanbe (AsiaNews / Agencies) - After 10 years of negotiations, the CASA-1000 (Central Asia - South Asia) project for the supply of electricity by Tajkistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan has been launched. The construction of the new power grid will be completed by 2018 and is already being hailed as one of the most important trade agreements of recent times among the countries of the area. The deal - worth $ 1.2 billion - is not only of economic advantage for all contractors, but will also serve to maintain regional stability, ensuring security and prosperity.

The agreement was signed last May 12 in Dushanbe. The political leaders of the four countries in question were present and spoke of a "historic agreement". Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, said that the CASA-1000, along with two other commercial projects (CPEC with China and Tapi with India and Turkmenistan), "is among the greatest achievements of my government." Sooronbai Zheenbekov, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, added that the project "will give a powerful boost to the strengthening of mutual cooperation with Afghanistan."

The project involves the construction of a 1,222 kilometers long electricity network between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The grid will produce clean electricity that will be distributed in Afghanistan (300 MW) and Pakistan (1000 MW). The construction is financed by the United States, Great Britain and the leading international financial institutions: World Bank, European Investment Bank and Islamic Development Bank.

The new network will create economic benefits for all countries, increasing employment in the Central Asian republics, providing substantial revenue for Afghanistan (which will pass on the portion of electricity supplied to Pakistan), and avoiding Pakistan being left without electricity in summer months, during which blackouts often occur with serious consequences for the population.

The declared objective is to ensure security in the area through the development of trade, and to promote contact between the populations. To this end, the World Bank has allocated $ 40 million to be distributed in the border areas. The Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif concluded by saying: "I am confident that soon the day will come when South Asia will be fully integrated with Central Asia through energy and trade routes, stimulating economic and social development and bringing prosperity to the region".

• central
• Asia southern
• asia Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan Afghanistan Pakistan eletricity
• grid project
• CASA-1000 energy regional
• stability economy