Pakistan inaugurates 113 km electricity transmission lines
Pakistan and Islamic Development Bank inaugurated 113 km power transmission lines along its border with Afghanistan on 27 January.
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Pakistan, Islamabad: Pakistan and Islamic Development Bank inaugurated 113 km power transmission lines along its border with Afghanistan on 27 January.
The country aims to complete its side of the $1.2 B mega CASA-1000 project.
Minister for Energy Omar Ayub and Islamic Development Bank President Bandar Hajjar inaugurated the construction of the electricity transmission lines from Pakistan-Afghan border to Nowshera under the South Asia Central Asia Regional Trade and Transmission Project (CASA-1000) in a virtual event. The CASA-1000 project is a 1,270 km power transmission line that exports surplus hydropower generated in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan. Transmission components under the project are financed by Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, UK’s Department for International Development, and USAID at a total cost of approximately $1.17 B.
“The project will support economic integration among four participating countries, through establishing the regional electricity connection and creation of an integrated electricity market and it will also positively contribute towards energy security since the energy mix of Pakistan has been strengthened through substantial amount of cross border import and export of electricity,” said Omar Ayub. “CASA-1000 project is not only a transformative development in economic and power sectors of Central Asia and South Asia, instead it is an inspiring model of how such development change can be best accomplished.”
The energy minister said Pakistan embarked upon taping huge indigenous potential of renewable energy. The new renewable energy policy will bring opportunities for investors.
Source: The News International