The World Bank, after a two-year pause, is resuming funding for the implementation of the interregional power transmission line CASA-1000 in Afghanistan, according to information from the Afghan power company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), Asia Plus reports.
On March 7-8 of this year, a joint meeting took place in Istanbul, bringing together representatives from the World Bank, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan to discuss the restart of the project, as stated in the announcement.
DABS representatives announce that the project's implementation in Afghanistan, with financial support from the World Bank, will resume in May 2024.
It is expected that the construction of the Afghan section of the CASA-1000 power transmission line will be completed by the end of 2025.
"The restart of this project was initiated at the request of the regional countries, and Afghanistan is fully confident that all necessary conditions will be met," the statement concludes.
In early December 2023, the energy ministers of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan requested donors to expedite the completion of the CASA-1000 power transmission line.
At the same time, the office of the Vice Premier of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the self-designation of the Taliban-led government) for economic affairs requested the World Bank to resume work in the country on all projects.
The Central Asia – South Asia – 1000 (CASA-1000) project involves the construction of a transboundary power transmission line to supply electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
CASA-1000 Power Transmission Line Route
According to the energy ministries of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the sections of this power transmission line in their countries are practically ready for operation, and all necessary facilities in Pakistan are also nearing completion.
The official launch of the CASA-1000 project implementation took place in May 2016 in Tursunzade, Tajikistan, with the participation of the heads of states and governments of the four participating countries.
The total budget for the construction of this power transmission line is approximately $1.2 billion, with a total length of 1,400 km.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 11, 2024