ISLAMABAD – The Central Asia-South Asia 1000 (CASA 1000) project to supply 1,000 megawatts electricity through a 750 kilometer long transmission line from Tajikistan to Pakistan would formally be inaugurated in Dushanbe on May 12.
The project, signed between Tajikistan and Pakistan, would be completed at a cost of $1.2 billion in two years. The power import project would help Pakistan get cheaper and clean energy to minimise its electricity shortages, according to Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, Sherali S Jononov.
About security of the transmission line passing through Afghanistan, he recently told media persons that Kabul had already given a guarantee to ensure security of the transmission line. He said, “Hydroelectric power generation had been stable during the last 15 years”.
“In addition to big plants”, he said, “there were also 20 medium and 40 small hydel power plants in the remote mountainous areas, with capacity ranging from 5 kilowatts to 1,500KW.” This, he said, would be a major breakthrough in the relations of the two countries.
Responding to a question, he said that all arrangements including necessary financial resources had been made to undertake the project forthwith. As per agreement, Tajikistan would export 1000 MW hydel electricity to Pakistan through a 750 kilometer long transmission line by year 2018, he added.
Terming Pakistan-Tajikistan bilateral relations as excellent that meet aspirations of their people, he said that Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize Tajikistan as an independent country and that both brotherly countries were enjoying cordial relations since then.
About capacity of export of hydel electricity of Tajikistan, he said that only Tajikistan could export more than 5000 megawatts electricity to Pakistan through hydel projects especially in the summer season.
He also said that work on another transmission line from Tajikistan to Pakistan via Wakhan Strip bordering Afghanistan with capacity of 500KV would also begin shortly after the completion of CASA 1000 MW transmission line.
When asked about the price of the electricity, he said that it would be from Hydel project namely Roghun Hydro Power Project which has a total capacity of 3600 MW and its price will be very reasonable and it would be a gift for Pakistani fraternity from Tajikistan. “Trade volume was getting momentum between the two countries day by day and it would be increased to $ 500 million within next two years, he concluded,” he added.
