KABUL – New developments reported over the mega CASA – 1000 energy projectinvolving Pakistan.
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday officially inaugurated thework on the CASA-1000 hydro power project, one of the biggest powerprojects in the region, which will transfer 300 megawatts of electricityfrom Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Ghani said that the project was a step forwardtowards changing Afghanistan into a hub of energy transit in the region.
“Economic cooperation is in the interest of all member countries, ourvision is to transform Afghanistan into a crossroads of energy transit inthe region,” said Ghani at the event.
At the ceremony, Tajikistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Imomov Sharofiddinsaid that implementation of the project will help promote political andeconomic stability in Afghanistan.
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“In the future, we plan the CASA-1000 will run from Badakhshan towards theChitral region of Pakistan. This will help Afghanistan to change as a safetransit bridge and a connecting point between the countries in the region,particularly between Central Asia and South Asia,” said the Tajikambassador.
“Besides the transit money, an additional $2 million will be raised for afund that will be created by the exporters. The money from the fund will bespent on the security of the transmission lines where it passes through,”said Amanullah Ghalib, head of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS),Afghanistan’s main power supply company.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul, Zahid Nasrullah Khan and Afghan Minister ofEconomy Mustafa Mastoor were also present at the event.
