World Bank, Islamic Development Bank ready to finance CASA-1000 in Tajikistan - ministry
DUSHANBE. Dec 5 (Interfax) - The feasibility study for an electrical transmission line from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan through Tajikistan and Afghanistan is practically completed and the World Bank and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) are ready to provide financing for the construction project.
"Preparations for the project are nearly completed," Tajik Deputy Energy and Industry Minister Pulod Mukhiddinov said on Thursday during consultations to discuss the preliminary accounts for the CASA-1000 project.
"The sources of financing have already been determined. At the beginning of 2014 the board of directors of the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank will approve project financing and actual construction work will begin later that year, Mukhiddinov said, adding that the project would be completed in 2017.
Project costs are tentatively estimated at $970 million, including about $200 million to build the Kyrgyz portion of the electrical transmission line, $270 million for the Tajik segment, $300 million for the Afghan segment and $200 million for the Pakistani segment.
"This project is beneficial for all four participating countries. All of the countries have hired domestic and international consultants to ensure that the project meets international standards," Mukhiddinov said.
The 600-km CASA-1000 electrical transmission line will provide for export of 1,300 megawatts of power from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where a number of hydropower plants are under construction, to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kyrgyzstan plans to export 2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year on the line and Tajikistan - 3 billion kWh a year.
Representatives of potential donors and countries interested in project implementation took part in the consultations, which were held in Dushanbe on December 4-5.
