Pakistan to import 1,300MW power from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

The News Tuesday, September 17, 2013 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday signed a resolution to import 1,300 MW electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to overcome the power shortage in the summer season. The resolution was signed by the four countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the two-day meeting of the inter-governmental council of Central Asia South Asia (CASA) transmission and trade project, started here. The proposed project has been abbreviated as CASA-1000 and its transmission facilities would maximize the use of 1,300MW renewable summer electricity surplus from existing plants in Central Asia-Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan and provide electricity to consumers in South Asian countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan both generate surplus electricity from hydropower during the summer while these countries suffer electricity shortages during their cold winters. Thus part of the summer electricity cannot be stored and this surplus cannot be used during their cold winters and the toll on their citizens is enormous. Thus, import of electricity would only be from surplus summer generation of the two countries which is otherwise wasted and would not impact winter generation or make shortage worse.The project includes-500kv line Datka-Khudjand (477km) with Tajik network transferring Kyrgyz exports to Sangtuda, 1300 MW AC-DC convertor station at Sangtuda, 750 km HVDC line Sangtuda-Kabul-Peshawar,300 MW Convertor station at Kabul with import and export capability and then 1300 MW DC-AC convertor station would be set up at Peshawar. Talking to APP, Advisor to prime minister on Energy Dr Musadaq Malik said work on the project would start in 2014 and complete in 2-3 years to add 1300 MW to the national grid and provide cheaper electricity to the country’s consumers at summer season. Replying to a question regarding the security issue, he said security issues exist in the KPK and Balochistan but the project would be protected, adding across the boarder, Afghanistan has provided sovereign guaranty to guard and protect the transmission line. He said the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Gulf Coordination Group would support the CASA-1000.In opening remarks, Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif remarked” the project will bring in clean and affordable hydroelectricity to our energy starved national grid, an energy mix that is at our priority list.” He said,” we will be reaping fruit in the form of 1227 km transmission line extending from Kyrgyz Republic to Tajikistan, passing through Afghanistan and finally reaching Pakistan.”Later Afghanistan Minister for Energy and Water Al-Haj Mohammad Esmail talking to media persons said the project would further strengthen ties between the four countries and would help boost their economies.Replying to a question, he said each partner had to play role to protect the transmission line, passing through their part.