TURSUNZADE: A $1.2 billion quadrilateral project was launched on Thursday that would allow the export of Central Asian electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan by 2020.

The leaders of Pakistan, Tajikis­tan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, who jointly launched the Central Asia-South Asia (Casa-1000) project, termed it “win-win and mutually rewarding” for all stakeholder states and beneficial to the prosperity of their peoples.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Sooronbay Jeenbekov tightened bolts of the grand power transmission tower installed at Tursunzade city, about 47km from the Tajik capital of Dushanbe.

Pakistan will obtain 1,000MW of electricity via Afghanistan which will get 300MW to be generated by Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Under the project, a total of 1,300MW will be produced by Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The transmission line originating from the Kyrgyz substation at Datka will run through Tajikistan’s substations of Sughda, Dushanbe, Regar and Sangtuda and then pass through Afghanistan to Pakistan with a converter station at Nowshera.

The leaders in their speeches agreed on early materialisation of the project which they said was an important milestone in attaining regional integration between Central Asia and South Asia.

Prime Minister Sharif noted with satisfaction that Casa-1000 had entered the implementation phase after several years of its conception and said the project demonstrated landmark cooperation among Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.

He termed it an important step towards realisation of the planned Central Asia South Asia Regional Electricity Market.

He said the project would be a win-win for all four countries for achieving a number of economic, social and environmental benefits besides reducing energy deficit, creating jobs and improving trade.

Regional integration

Mr Sharif said connectivity, be it the air or rail links, was the key to regional integration, economic and trade development and people-to-people contacts. He welcomed initiation of Tajikistan’s Somon Air flights between Dushanbe and Lahore from May 6, which he said would not only facilitate travel between the two countries but would also enhance economic ties and tourism.

“I am confident that the day is not far when South Asia will completely integrate with Central Asia through energy and trade corridors, spurring economic and social development and bring prosperity to the region,” he said.

Mr Sharif appreciated the support provided by the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, USAID, the UK Department of International Development and Australian Agency for International Development in implementing the project.

The Tajik president expressed the confidence that the broad energy cooperation would not only address the social, economic and environmental challenges but also improve people’s living standard.

“This project will allow over 5 billion kilowatt-hours of environmentally clean power to be supplied to Pakistan and Afghanistan from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan annually,” he said.

Mr Rahmon said Tajikistan had surplus hydel electricity generation in summer with only five per cent of it being used at present. He said his country wanted the South Asian states to benefit from this power potential.

Mr Abdullah of Afghanistan said the moment of Casa-1000’s launch was a milestone as the four countries had come together after 10 years of efforts and added that Afghanistan would be happy to play the role of a bridge in materialising the project.

He said the project conveyed a message to the world that a region facing such challenges as terrorism was sincere to pursuing a constructive economic agenda.

The Kyrgyz prime minister said the project was a significant source of affordable and clean energy and expressed the hope that it would result in economic development of the region.

Mountainous ex-Soviet republics Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan generate most of their energy from hydropower plants built on the rivers that flow into Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan limit water release during summer because of lower power demand, angering their neighbours who need water for irrigation.

The five countries have failed to reached an agreement after decades of negotiations. The new power line could smooth flows as power demand in Pakistan peaks during the summer months.

Security challenges

“Security is a key issue for the project, both during construction and operation,” the World Bank said in a presentation this week.

The transmission line is designed to pass through areas in Afghanistan where the government troops are still battling the Taliban.

The World Bank plans to spend $40 million to support local communities along the line in Afghanistan to ensure its security.

The 1,200-km line is part of America’s New Silk Road initiative to integrate Afghanistan with Central Asia.

“We realise the complexity of the project... but the main driving force has been the commitment of all the four countries,” said Daniel Rosenblum, Deputy Assistant State Secretary for Central Asia, who also attended the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2016