Indians to Begin CASA-1000 Project in Afghanistan

Officials of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) on Monday said that two Indian companies have been selected to start the work on the CASA-1000 power project in Afghanistan.

The Indian companies are expected to begin with the installation of transmission lines within the framework of CASA-1000 in a month’s time, the officials said.

The Afghan government is expected to invest $235 million for the implementation of the project and the Indian companies will implement the project inside Afghanistan in three phases.

The project worth $2.1 million USD, will cross seven provinces, Minister of Energy and Water, Ali Ahmad Usmani, said.
The project worth $2.1 million USD, will cross seven provinces, Minister of Energy and Water, Ali Ahmad Usmani, said.

“This is not the only project which will transfer energy from Central Asia to Afghanistan and South Asia, but this is a bridge which connects the four nations in the region,” said Osmani.

Jamshed Shoimzoda, Deputy Minister of Energy and Water of Tajikistan, said that CASA-1000 project connects the people and paves the way for the progress of countries in the region, adding that from the technical aspect, CASA-1000 is a unique project in the region, he says.

CASA-1000 project will start from Kyrgyzstan and it will reach Afghanistan through Tajikistan and onward to Pakistan’s Peshawar city. The length of the project in Afghanistan is estimated to eventually run for 562km.
CASA-1000 project will start from Kyrgyzstan and it will reach Afghanistan through Tajikistan and onward to Pakistan’s Peshawar city. The length of the project in Afghanistan is estimated to eventually run for 562km.

With the implementation of the project, 1300 megawatt electricity of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will arrive in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan will receive 300 megawatts of power and the remaining one thousand megawatts will be transited to Pakistan via Afghanistan territory.

“Of the four countries, Afghanistan is the first country which has wrapped up procurement works for the project, we have completed these works six months before the deadline,” said Amanullah Ghalib, chairman Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS).

The CASA-1000 Project is an important step in building a functioning, efficient electricity system across Central Asia and South Asia. By facilitating clean power export revenues for the Central Asian countries and by alleviating electricity shortages in the South Asian countries, this project will enhance growth prospects across both regions.

This project demonstrates landmark cooperation among the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The modern and efficient CASA-1000 electricity transmission system will help transform the region and signify an important step toward realizing the planned Central Asia-South Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM). The CASAREM initiative will help not only these four countries but also improve the electrical systems and develop inter-regional cooperation between Central Asia and South Asia.

Afghanistan will receive $50 million in transit duty from the project annually. The project will also enhance the economic connectivity between the contributing nations and will boost Afghanistan’s transit reputation in the region and entire Asia.