Latest news with #CASA-1000
Business Recorder
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Trade, energy, defence and regional connectivity: Pakistan, Tajikistan review cooperation
DUSHANBE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon Thursday reviewed bilateral cooperation in different areas, including political, trade, economy, energy, defence, security, and regional connectivity. During the bilateral meeting, they agreed to actively pursue new avenues for cooperation, with a focus on fostering investment opportunities, enhancing educational linkages, prompting cultural exchanges, advancing information technology collaboration and strengthening people-to-people contacts. Earlier upon arrival at Qasr-e-Millat, the President welcomed the Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation. At the invitation of Government of Tajikistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived here to participate in the International High-Level Conference on Glaciers' Preservation (ICGP) being held on 29-31 May, 2025. PM Shehbaz to visit Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan from May 25 to 30 He was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and senior officials. Upon arrival at Dushanbe, he was received by the Prime Minister of Tajikistan Qohir Rasulzoda. During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the Tajik President held in-depth and wide-ranging discussions covering various aspects of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. During the discussions, they fondly recalled the signing of historic Strategic Partnership Agreement during the Prime Minister's visit to Dushanbe in July 2024, which laid a strong foundation for strengthening bilateral relations and advancing shared interests. Reaffirming the fraternal ties existing between the two countries marked by shared history, culture and geography, the leaders expressed satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation and resolved to elevate the strategic cooperation to a new level, for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples. On CASA-1000, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to positioning it as a pivotal project for regional integration. Welcoming the holding of CASA-1000 Inter-Governmental Council in Dushanbe on 15 May 2025, the Prime Minister assured the shared commitment to its early operationalisation. Regarding economic cooperation, the two leaders, acknowledging the untapped potential in bilateral trade, underscored the importance of actively pursuing new avenues of cooperation in line with the decisions taken during the 7th Session of Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific Technical Cooperation, held in Islamabad in December 2024. They also agreed to effectively leverage the existing institutional frameworks including twelve Joint Working Groups (JWGs), to further enhance collaboration between the two countries, especially in oil & gas and energy sectors. They took good note of growing bilateral cooperation in the field of defence & security and reiterated their resolve to further boost the same in order to overcome the common security challenges faced by the two countries. They emphasized the need to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, combating cross-border organized crime and human and drug trafficking. The leaders also exchanged perspectives on regional and global geopolitical developments. They emphasized the importance of working together to promote peace, stability, and economic development in the region. On peaceful resolution of Tajik-Kyrgyz border dispute, the Prime Minister felicitated the President on this milestone and appreciated the President's prudence and wisdom in resolving the issue through peaceful means. The Prime Minister hoped that this historical development would usher in a new era of cooperation and progress in the region. The two leaders expressed satisfaction on cooperation at the multilateral fora, including at the UN, OIC, SCO and ECO and reaffirmed their resolve to continue collaboration on global and regional issues of common interest. The Prime Minister, reaffirming Pakistan's historical and cordial ties with Tajikistan, underscored the importance Pakistan attaches to ongoing structured and multifaceted engagement with Tajikistan, for mutual gains. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan's commitment to strengthening connectivity linkages with the Central Asian region. Towards that end, he highlighted China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a linchpin of Pakistan's connectivity with the region. The Prime Minister also briefed the President on the latest situation in the South Asian region. The Prime Minister underscored that our region could not afford India's irresponsible and unlawful actions since 7 May 2025, which amounted to acts of war and violation of the UN Charter and international law. The Prime Minister urged the international community to hold India accountable, reiterating that Pakistan desires peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full resolve if challenged. He also underscored that the resolution of Jammu & Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, remains fundamental to securing lasting peace in the region. In response, President Emomali said that as a staunch friend of Pakistan, he too was very worried at the events of early May, adding that he would always promote peace and stability in the region. He added that he was deeply impressed by the Prime Minister's remarkable leadership that was critical to the restoration of peace and security in the region.
Express Tribune
16-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt prioritises CASA energy project completion
Listen to article Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional energy cooperation during a virtual address at the CASA-1000 Inter-governmental Council meeting held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Speaking to an audience comprising energy ministers and officials from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, representatives from international organisations and technical experts, Leghari underscored the strategic importance of the CASA-1000 power transmission project. He emphasised its role in fostering sustainable energy trade, enhancing regional connectivity and ensuring energy security across Central and South Asia, while highlighting Pakistan's active involvement in its implementation. He remarked that CASA-1000 was not merely an energy transmission project; it was also a transformative initiative that would spark economic development, regional harmony and mutual trust across the region. He stressed that timely completion of the project was a top priority for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. "The project is critical not only for energy transmission but also for strengthening regional ties." The federal minister affirmed Pakistan's readiness to supply surplus electricity to partner countries during the winter season and proposed reverse energy flow within the CASA network. He said that Pakistan's surplus electricity could play a vital role in fulfilling energy needs of Central Asian countries, adding that the network must be used effectively and transparently to ensure equal benefits for all partner nations. He assured meeting participants that despite some delay, Pakistan had taken all necessary measures to safeguard the project's assets. Winding up his speech, Leghari reiterated that CASA-1000 was a key energy project that would lay the foundation for regional prosperity, stability and collaboration. "The successful completion of this initiative will demonstrate our shared commitment and guarantee a brighter future for the entire region."
Business Recorder
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CASA and the World Bank
EDITORIAL: As per a Business Recorder exclusive, the World Bank is likely to extend the closing date of Central Asia South Asia 1000 (CASA-1000) electricity transmission and trade project for three years (till December 2028). The reason: delays attributed largely to a restive Afghanistan as the required infrastructure is complete in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (including the testing of the High Voltage Direct Current — HVDC — converter station) while in Pakistan the transmission line connecting the Nowshera grid to the electricity grid is 99 percent complete with 375 out of 376 towers complete and the remaining expected to be completed by June this year though the World Bank mission has submitted that (i) HVDC facilities will be tested only after the Afghanistan line is completed; (ii) additional financing will be required once the project goes into operational readiness in 2028 to meet NTDC's legal and technical obligations; and (iii) NTDC must update the information in STEP (step-by-step approach) by end of 2025. Two observations are critical. First and foremost, this project envisages export of hydroelectricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (upstream countries relative to Uzbekistan, an agricultural country, whose water supply may be negatively impacted) coupled with the worsening Afghan-Pakistan relations with rising terror attacks in Pakistan from across the border and retaliation by Pakistan armed forces as well as the decision to expel illegal Afghan refugees from Pakistan. It must be recalled that India pulled out of the Iran Pakistan gas pipeline due to its energy security concerns, and Pakistan may do well to take similar concerns on board with respect to CASA-1000, given the opposition to the project from within and outside the four CASA countries. And secondly, CASA project began in 2016, a time when the country was suffering from massive daily load-shedding and this particular project was rightly viewed as one that would solve the country's energy shortfall at the cheapest rate possible without the need to construct expensive dams that would have required external financing — dams that are increasingly being opposed by multilaterals as challenging for the environment. Nine years later the situation is different on multiple counts: (i) insurance coverage costs for the required infrastructure in Afghanistan are expected to be prohibitive; (ii) Pakistan has surplus energy reliant on more expensive fuel, furnace oil. Though contracts signed by successive administrations with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are in the process of being renegotiated — that include capacity payments and repatriation of profits in dollars — yet any additional power supply must take a back seat to first ensuring 100 percent vacation of existing generation, barring government operated generation companies that are at the bottom of the economic merit order; and (iii) the envisaged competitive electricity market may be further delayed as CASA is a government-to-government venture that would require a pledge by the government of Pakistan to pay Afghanistan the transit fees in dollars. World Bank website indicates that since August 2001 it has provided 2 billion dollars to Afghanistan with 280 million dollars to Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF) — to UNICEF and the World Food Programme as Approach 1.0; it has supported the people of Afghanistan since 2022 by extending funds for health, education, food security, water services and livelihoods as Approach 2; and pledged to continue to make IDA funds to complement ARTF financing as Approach 3.0, which will include assuming CASA-1000 project in a ringfenced manner to ensure construction payments and future revenue to be managed outside Afghanistan and do not involve Interim Taliban Administration (ITA). Without active participation, the vacation of the electricity to Pakistan through CASA-1000 will remain dicey at best. To conclude, given these circumstances, Pakistan, at the tail end of the supply chain, should reconsider delaying this project's implementation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan: World Bank likely to extend CD for CASA-1000
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank is likely to extend closing date of CASA-1000(South-Asia- Central Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project) for three years (until December 31, 2028) as some delays are witnessed in the infrastructure of the long-awaited project, well informed sources told Business Recorder. Recently, an Implementation Support Mission of World Bank visited the site of the project in Pakistan and held meetings with the contractors and NTDC officials. The World Bank, along with other development partners including Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have made various commitments to the CASA-1000 project in the four CASA countries and are providing financing support for the implementation of this transformational regional power trade and integration project. CASA-1000 suddenly gets new lease of life? According to the Bank, the project continues to make progress on construction activities across the CASA-1000 transmission line in Afghanistan, with more than 102 towers erected since resumption of construction in December 2024. In Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, the construction of CASA-1000 infrastructure has been completed. The subsystem testing of the High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) part has been completed between Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, and the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter station was tested in early 2025, with the line now energised. The Bank further noted significant progress made under CASA-1000 in Pakistan, where the overall progress of both the Nowshera Converter Station and Electrode Station is above 99 percent and is expected to be completed by August 2025. The task team visited the Converter and Electrode Substations on April 11 and is grateful to NTDC for organising this site visit and showing the progress achieved. The transmission line connecting the Nowshera Substation to the electricity grid is 99 percent completed, with 375 towers completed out of 376, and the remaining tower is expected to be finalised by June 2025. The work on stringing the HVDC transmission line is progressing, with 40 kilometres completed and this portion energised to keep it secure. Additionally, the 66kV line connecting the Electrode Substation has 48 towers completed out of 89, with the remaining work progressing well and expected to be completed by June 2025. The sources said, the WB's Mission submitted the following key findings and recommendations that require close attention and follow-up by Power Division and NTDC senior management: (i) interim solution for the Converter and Electrode Stations Maintenance. An interim solution is needed to take over the maintenance and upkeep of the converter and electrode stations. While the HVDC facilities are expected to be completed in approximately six months, the system will have to wait for its testing and commissioning until the Afghanistan line is completed. The PIU of CASA-1000 is working under the Owners Engineer (OE). Two possible scenarios are being reviewed for an interim solution: either to suspend the maintenance or to do a partial handover to the Implementation Sub Committee (ISC) for CASA-1000. A meeting with the contractor was held on April 16, 2025 to agree on the next steps. A preliminary proposal discussed by NTDC and the OE, is to proceed with a partial handover and keep three experts from Hitachi/Cobra at the site to provide maintenance and training to NTDC personnel. The OE has advised that the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities should be carried out by NTDC staff (after receiving training from M/s Hitachi) which must be confirmed by ISC NTDC. M/s Hitachi would provide limited resources and will largely have a supervisory role; (ii) Project Extension: The current project closing date for Pakistan is December 31, 2025. Due to delays in the completion of CASA-1000 in Afghanistan, an extension to December 31, 2028, will be required. The other three CASA-1000 Countries (Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Afghanistan) have already finalised their project extensions. NTDC submitted a letter to the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on March 26, 2025, requesting a three-year project extension. Consequently, a request from EAD is to be submitted to the Bank to restructure and extend the project; (iii) Additional Financing: Currently, NTDC has sufficient financing from WB and ISDB to complete the physical infrastructure of the Converter, Electrode Stations and Transmission Lines. However, as the project goes into Operational Readiness in 2028, additional financing will be required as part of NTDC's legal and technical obligations. The amount and timeline for this will be firmed up over the next fiscal year; and (iv) update information in STEP: It has been noted that the information on procurement activities in STEP is incomplete and not updated. NTDC has been requested to update the information in STEP by the end of December 2025. NTDC also agreed to hire a new Procurement Specialist, as this position recently became vacant following the resignation of the previous Procurement Specialist. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
World Bank likely to extend CD for CASA-1000
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank is likely to extend closing date of CASA-1000(South-Asia- Central Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project) for three years (until December 31, 2028) as some delays are witnessed in the infrastructure of the long-awaited project, well informed sources told Business Recorder. Recently, an Implementation Support Mission of World Bank visited the site of the project in Pakistan and held meetings with the contractors and NTDC officials. The World Bank, along with other development partners including Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have made various commitments to the CASA-1000 project in the four CASA countries and are providing financing support for the implementation of this transformational regional power trade and integration project. CASA-1000 suddenly gets new lease of life? According to the Bank, the project continues to make progress on construction activities across the CASA-1000 transmission line in Afghanistan, with more than 102 towers erected since resumption of construction in December 2024. In Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, the construction of CASA-1000 infrastructure has been completed. The subsystem testing of the High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) part has been completed between Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, and the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter station was tested in early 2025, with the line now energised. The Bank further noted significant progress made under CASA-1000 in Pakistan, where the overall progress of both the Nowshera Converter Station and Electrode Station is above 99 percent and is expected to be completed by August 2025. The task team visited the Converter and Electrode Substations on April 11 and is grateful to NTDC for organising this site visit and showing the progress achieved. The transmission line connecting the Nowshera Substation to the electricity grid is 99 percent completed, with 375 towers completed out of 376, and the remaining tower is expected to be finalised by June 2025. The work on stringing the HVDC transmission line is progressing, with 40 kilometres completed and this portion energised to keep it secure. Additionally, the 66kV line connecting the Electrode Substation has 48 towers completed out of 89, with the remaining work progressing well and expected to be completed by June 2025. The sources said, the WB's Mission submitted the following key findings and recommendations that require close attention and follow-up by Power Division and NTDC senior management: (i) interim solution for the Converter and Electrode Stations Maintenance. An interim solution is needed to take over the maintenance and upkeep of the converter and electrode stations. While the HVDC facilities are expected to be completed in approximately six months, the system will have to wait for its testing and commissioning until the Afghanistan line is completed. The PIU of CASA-1000 is working under the Owners Engineer (OE). Two possible scenarios are being reviewed for an interim solution: either to suspend the maintenance or to do a partial handover to the Implementation Sub Committee (ISC) for CASA-1000. A meeting with the contractor was held on April 16, 2025 to agree on the next steps. A preliminary proposal discussed by NTDC and the OE, is to proceed with a partial handover and keep three experts from Hitachi/Cobra at the site to provide maintenance and training to NTDC personnel. The OE has advised that the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities should be carried out by NTDC staff (after receiving training from M/s Hitachi) which must be confirmed by ISC NTDC. M/s Hitachi would provide limited resources and will largely have a supervisory role; (ii) Project Extension: The current project closing date for Pakistan is December 31, 2025. Due to delays in the completion of CASA-1000 in Afghanistan, an extension to December 31, 2028, will be required. The other three CASA-1000 Countries (Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Afghanistan) have already finalised their project extensions. NTDC submitted a letter to the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on March 26, 2025, requesting a three-year project extension. Consequently, a request from EAD is to be submitted to the Bank to restructure and extend the project; (iii) Additional Financing: Currently, NTDC has sufficient financing from WB and ISDB to complete the physical infrastructure of the Converter, Electrode Stations and Transmission Lines. However, as the project goes into Operational Readiness in 2028, additional financing will be required as part of NTDC's legal and technical obligations. The amount and timeline for this will be firmed up over the next fiscal year; and (iv) update information in STEP: It has been noted that the information on procurement activities in STEP is incomplete and not updated. NTDC has been requested to update the information in STEP by the end of December 2025. NTDC also agreed to hire a new Procurement Specialist, as this position recently became vacant following the resignation of the previous Procurement Specialist. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
