CASA-1000 project to supply 1000 MW electricity to Pakistan to be inaugurated next week: Envoy

ISLAMABAD: The Central Asia-South Asia 1000 (CASA 1000) project to supply 1000 megawatts electricity through a 750 kilometer long transmission line from Tajikistan to Pakistan would formally be launched in Dushanbe next week.

The project, signed between Tajikistan and Pakistan, would be completed at a cost of US$ 1.2 billion in two years.

The power import project would help Pakistan get cheaper and clean energy to minimize its electricity shortages, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, Sherali S. Jononov said here on Wednesday.

About security the transmission line passing through Afghanistan, he informed the mediapersons that Kabul has given a guarantee to ensure security of the transmission line.

He said, hydroelectric power generation has 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 will be a major breakthrough in the relations of the two countries.

Responding a question, he said, all arrangements including necessary financial resources have been made to undertake the project forthwith.

As per an agreement, Tajikistan would export 1000MW hydel electricity to Pakistan through a 750 kilometer long transmission line by year 2018, he added.

Terming Pak-Tajikistan bilateral relations as excellent one that meet aspirations of their people, he said that Pakistan is one of the first among those countries who recognized Tajikistan as an independent country and both the brotherly countries are 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.

The Ambassador said work on another transmission line of same capacity of 500KV from Tajikistan to Pakistan via Wakhan Strip bordering Afghanistan would also begin shortly after the working of CASA 1000 MW transmission line.

When asked about the price of the electricity, he said that it will be from Hydel project namely Roghun Hydro Power Project which has a total capacity of 3600MW and price will be very reasonable even nominal basically it would be a gift for Pakistani fraternity from Tajikistan.

About the future of economic ties between the two countries, he said that Pakistan was enjoying very important geo-strategic location in the region and Tajikistan would take benefit from this opportunity and would be a partner of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Trade volume is getting momentum between the two countries day by day and it would be increased to US$ 500 million within next two years, he concluded.