ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will import about 1000 megawatt hydel electricity from Tajikistan under the Central Asia South Asia (CASA-1000) project through a 750 kilometre long transmission line by year 2018 with an estimated cost of $1,160 million.
Ambassador of Tajikistan Sherali Saidamir Jononove said this here on Friday while talking to APP about Pakistan-Tajikistan bilateral relations with special reference to CASA-1000 project.
Talking about Pakistan-Tajikistan bilateral relations, the Ambassador said, “Pakistan is one of the first among those countries who recognised Tajikistan as an independent country and both the brotherly countries are enjoying cordial relations since then.”
Speaking about the details of the project, the ambassador said that the said transmission line of 500 KV would also be utilised for transmitting more than 300 MW hydel electricity to Pakistan from another state of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan.
To a question about the implementation of this project, Ambassador Sherali said that feasibility report had already been completed and working on the laying of transmission line from Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan would begin from May this year.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also participate in the transmission line laying ceremony scheduled to be held in Tajikistan in May this year, he said.
About capacity of export of hydel electricity of Tajikistan, he said that only Tajikistan could export more than 5000MW electricity to Pakistan through hydel projects especially in the summer season.
“Working 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”, the ambassador said.
Regarding current status of the project, the ambassador said that a Joint Commission of both the countries was working on the implementation of CASA-1000 MW project and its upcoming meeting would be held during next week in Dushanbe.
When asked about financing of the project, the ambassador said that a total estimated cost of the project was $1,160 million as per the feasibility study finalised with the support of World Bank. Financing from IDA (World Bank) Islamic Development Bank, Arab Group and other donors was under consideration. A Multi-Donor Trust Fund was also being established for this project, he added.
