The Ministry of Energy and Water has announced that 70% of the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project in Afghanistan has been completed.
Matiullah Abid, the ministry’s spokesperson, added that if the World Bank provides the necessary funding, the Islamic Emirate is prepared to complete the remaining work on this project.
This major regional project, which connects Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, will not only provide Afghanistan with an opportunity to transit electricity but also enhance regional cooperation in the energy sector.
Regarding this project, the Ministry of Energy and Water spokesperson stated: “CASA-1000, as a regional project, has progressed by 70% in Afghanistan, and 95% of its equipment has been transferred to the site. If the World Bank funds the project, Afghanistan is fully prepared to resume the remaining work.”
Hikmatullah Maiwandi, the spokesperson for Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), said: “During the current year, the countries involved in the CASA-1000 project will hold a high-level meeting.”
Daler Juma, Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy, told Interfax News Agency that construction work on the project in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has been completed, while in Pakistan, it is expected to be finished by mid-2024.
Meanwhile, a former head of DABS described CASA-1000 as a crucial and beneficial project for Afghanistan, stating that its implementation would pave the way for other regional infrastructure projects in the country.
Amanullah Ghalib, former head of DABS, said: “The main significance of CASA-1000 is that it intertwines the economic and security interests of neighboring countries, contributing to both Afghanistan’s security and its economic future.”
Reports indicate that negotiations between the World Bank and other project partners have reached a final agreement, and it is expected that CASA-1000 will be completed in Afghanistan by the end of 2026.
Upon the project’s completion, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be able to export up to 1,300 megawatts of surplus electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan during the summer months, while Afghanistan will earn up to $70 million annually through electricity transit revenues.