DUSHANBE, February 11, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Working groups of the countries participating in the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Trade and Transmission Project (CASA 1000) have reportedly gathered in Washington to discuss technical aspects of the project.

An official source at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) says Tajik delegation participating in this meeting is led by Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Poulod Muhiddinov.

“A three-day meeting of the working groups is starting in Washington tomorrow and the next meeting of the intergovernmental council of four countries participating in the CASA 1000 Project is scheduled to take place in Washington on February 18 and the Tajik delegation participating in this meeting will be led by the First Deputy Prime Minister, Davlatali Saidov,” the source noted.

Besides, three-day negotiations will start in Washington on February 19 to discuss the project financing issues, the source added.  According to him, representatives of the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and other investors will also participate in the February 19 negotiations.      

CASA 1000 is designed to transmit 1,300MW of surplus electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan through Afghanistan, which is going to consume 300MW, to Pakistan.

The CASA 1000 Project is expected to develop the necessary physical infrastructure and create the institutional and legal framework to transmit surplus power available from existing generation facilities in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The physical infrastructure for CASA 1000 is likely to include: a 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan; an AC transmission link from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to connect to the HVDC line from Tajikistan to South Asia;  and the necessary electricity sub-stations in Kabul, Peshawar and Sangtuda (in Tajikistan).