KABUL: Breshna Company officials have warned that any change in the KASA 1000 electricity project could cause delays that will be costly.
The KASA 1000 project is among the major electricity transfer projects in the region, based on which 1,300 megawatts of electricity from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan is expected to be transferred to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The original route of the project inside Afghanistan was intended to start in Kunduz, and then pass through Baghlan, Panjshir, Kapisa, Parwan, Kabul and Nangarhar provinces on its way to Pakistan.
However, recently, the Breshna Company has been approached by donor countries about changing the path of the electrical lines. Reportedly, officials from the Asian Development Bank have suggested the lines pass through Baghlan to Bamyan, Parwan, Kabul and then Nangarhar.
“Studies by the Asian Development Bank show that the Salang mountains are a better option as compared to Bamyan, and that way it will cost less as well,” said Ahmad Shekib Nesar, the operations director for Breshna Company.
Meanwhile, Bamyan MPs have welcomed the suggestion and begun to push for change, expecting major development opportunities to accompany it. “Our suggestion to the government is that the KASA 1000 project must pass through Bamyan, because there are two coalmines in Bamyan as well, which will help this project,” MP Abdul Rahman Shahedani said.
