1,000MW project of Pakistan via Central Asian states
Russia expressed its willingness to invest $500 million in Tetra-partner power import project under the head of Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000), while other leading financial institutions including World Bank (WB) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) made commitments of financial support for 1,000 megawatts (MW) power import project of Pakistan via Central Asian states.
Final round of Two-Day Inter Governmental Council (IGC) meeting for import of electricity to Pakistan (CASA-100) concluded in Dubai comprising delegates from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzistan and Russia as well as representatives of WB, United States Assistance for International Development (USAID), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Arab Bank have been participated in the meeting.
Sources in the Ministry of Water and Power said that a delegation of Russian corporate sector expressed its interest in 1,000 MW Tetra-partner power import project and made presentation, reiterating their desire to provide $500 million for this project.
Under the head of CASA-1000 electricity trade, Afghanistan assured complete security for the project of electricity transmission of 1,000 MW of surplus electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzistan to Pakistan having total cost of $873 million.
The total length of transmission line is 750 kilometres while the project is planned to be on public-private partnership basis with the support of WB, IFC, ADB and IDB with total estimated cost around $865 million.
A cross border transmission line project has been proposed for the construction of a dedicated link essentially aimed at supplying 1,300 MW of surplus hydropower available during the summer months from the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to Pakistan.
Sources further informed that in the first phase this link would provide 1,000 MW power to Pakistan, but in the subsequent phases 5,000 to 6,000 MW power could be tapped from Central Asian Countries to Pakistan, while Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has also offered Pakistan their intent to export their surplus power to Pakistan.
At the end of meeting, a protocol was signed by the energy ministers of the four countries.
A communiqué issued by the Ministry of Water and Power maintained that meeting of the Inter Governmental Council (IGC) for CASA-1000 Project was held in Dubai on May 16-17 and attended by the ministers of energy of four member countries including Afghanistan, Kyrgyzistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Important decisions with respect to project structure, appointment of executive director for the secretariat, roles and responsibilities of Country Working Groups to move the project ahead, various financing options for the project and all other important issues to speed up implementation of the project has been taken in conclusion session of IGC meeting.
While addressing in conclusive session, Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar said that CASA-1000 Project is very important for Pakistan as there is energy crises which has hitted country's economy and even the lives of common man.
He said that power import project under head of CASA-1000 would provide 1,000 MW to Pakistan at a very competitive price and implementation of this project would open new eras of prosperity to all the countries in the region.
Qamar further maintained that certain projects would bring tremendous social and economic development in the lives of people of both the Central Asian and South Asian regions and would open new eras for development in the region.
