ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan Sherali S. Jononov has said that the Afghan government gave a guarantee to ensure security of the transmission line of Central Asia-South Asia 1000 (CASA-1000), a power project under which Pakistan would receive 1000 megawatts electricity through a 750 kilometer-long transmission line from Tajikistan.
In a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, the Tajik envoy said that the CASA-1000 project would formally be launched in Dushanbe next week and it would be completed at a cost of US$ 1.2 billion in two years.
The ambassador said that the power import project would help Pakistan get cheaper and clean energy to minimize its electricity shortages.
Talking about security the transmission line passing through Afghanistan, he said that the Afghan government has given a guarantee to ensure security of the transmission line. He said that hydroelectric power generation has been stable during the last 15 years.
In addition to big plants, he said that there were also 20 medium and 40 small hydel power plants in the remote mountainous areas, with capacity ranging from 5 kilowatts to 1,500KW. This, he said will be a major breakthrough in the relations of the two countries.
Responding a question, he said that all arrangements including necessary financial resources have been made to undertake the project forthwith.
The Tajik envoy said that as per an agreement, Tajikistan would export 1000MW hydel electricity to Pakistan through a 750 kilometer-long transmission line by year 2018..
Terming Pak-Tajikistan bilateral relations as excellent one that meet aspirations of their people, he said that Pakistan is one of the first among those countries who recognized Tajikistan as an independent country and both the brotherly countries are enjoying cordial relations since then.
About capacity of export of hydel electricity of Tajikistan, he said that only Tajikistan could export more than 5000 megawatts electricity to Pakistan through hydel projects especially in the summer season.
The ambassador said that work on another transmission line of same capacity of 500KV from Tajikistan to Pakistan via Wakhan Strip bordering Afghanistan would also begin shortly after the working of CASA 1000 MW transmission line.
When asked about the price of the electricity, he said that it will be from Hydel project namely Roghun Hydro Power Project which has a total capacity of 3600MW and price will be very reasonable even nominal basically it would be a gift for Pakistani fraternity from Tajikistan.
About the future of economic ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan, he said that Pakistan was enjoying very important geo-strategic location in the region and Tajikistan would take benefit from this opportunity and would be a partner of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Sherali S. Jononov further said that trade volume is getting momentum between the two countries day by day and it would be increased to US$ 500 million within next two years.
