Daily Times

ISLAMABAD – Foundation stone laying ceremony of CASA-1000 Project, envisaging transportation of surplus electric power available in summer months (May 1 to September 30) from Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on May 11 among all the member countries.

The decision was taken in a series of recent meetings of Joint Working Group (JWG) and Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) of CASA-1000 Project, which was held in Almaty from April 19-21, said a press release issued here on Friday. The Pakistani side was represented in these meetings by Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Water and Power Secretary Muhammad Younus Dagha.

Energy ministers of the member countries led their respective delegations during these meetings. During these meetings of JWG and IGC of CASA-1000 Project, the member countries also thoroughly reviewed the ongoing procurement process for three convertor stations of the transmission line.

It was also decided to go for two convertor stations instead of three and to float fresh tenders for these two convertors within two months. Since the bid received for the convertor stations was very high and the technical capability of the bidder was also a major concern for all the member countries, the JWG/IGC meetings considered two options for quick materialization of the project.

These options include re-bidding and restructuring of the project by converting it to two terminal project with convertor stations at Tajikistan and Pakistan and Afghan Convertor station is taken separately. All countries and financing institutions have renewed their commitment to the project.

The project will comprise the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of a 750km high voltage direct current transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan via Afghanistan together with associated converter stations at Sangtuda (1300MW), Kabul (300MW) and District Nowshera (1300MW) (the “DC Facilities”), and a 477km 500kv alternating current link between the Kyrgyz Republic (Datka) and Tajikistan (Khoujand) (the “AC Facilities”).

The CASA-1000 Transmission Line (T/L) to Pakistan would be capable of delivering 1300 MW (1000 MW is Pakistan’s share & 300 MW is Afghanistan’s share; however, the Afghan share may be available for Pakistan as Afghanistan may not need the power in near future).

The estimated cost of the CASA-1000 Project is US $1170 million including US $208 million IDC & Taxes, but the final cost shall be determined through a competitive bidding process. This includes the estimated cost of US $200 million required for the Pakistan portion of the DC Transmission Line and Convertor Station.

The total tariff of the energy is calculated at 9.48 cents/Kwh which includes estimated transmission energy, Afghan Transit and Tajik wheeling charges. The World Bank in its Board of Directors meeting on March 27, 2014 has approved $120m in IDA credit for Pakistan. While ISDB committed $35 million for DC transmission line part of Pakistan.