Agreements signed to accelerate CASA-1000 power project

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
In a significant development for regional energy cooperation, several agreements were signed to expedite the implementation of the CASA-1000
power transmission project. The accords were inked during a high-level meeting in Tajikistan between energy officials from Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, Pakistan, and representatives of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), Afghanistan’s national power utility. According to a
statement posted on X, the agreements are aimed at accelerating the pace of construction and coordination required for the successful
operation of the CASA-1000 project — a major regional initiative linking Central and South Asia through electricity trade. Abdul Bari
Omar, CEO of DABS, highlighted the positive developments in Afghanistan that have paved the way for advancing the project. “I believe
Afghanistan’s current unprecedented security, its centralized transparent and accountable government and the leadership’s firm
commitment have created an excellent opportunity for us to successfully implement the CASA-1000 project together,” he said in the
meeting. What is CASA-1000? The Central Asia–South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project, known as CASA-1000, is a landmark
regional initiative designed to export surplus hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to energy-deficient markets in Afghanistan and
Pakistan
Once completed, the project will enable the annual transmission of up to 1,300 megawatts of electricity during the summer months. The
project involves the construction of over 1,200 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines — including approximately 560 kilometers
across Afghan territory — making Afghanistan a key transit country and beneficiary of the energy trade. Originally launched in 2016 with
support from the World Bank and other international donors, CASA-1000 has faced repeated delays due to political instability and security
challenges in the region, particularly in Afghanistan. The post Agreements signed to accelerate CASA-1000 power project first appeared on
TINS News | Afghanistan News.