Situation in Afghanistan would be top on agenda in quadrilateral Summit of CASA-1000 in Tajikistan
By Agha Iqrar Haroon
All four major stakeholders of CASA-1000 Project will hold a detail meeting on July 6, 2017 to review implementation of this regional project that is yet to be kicked off despite of its formal inauguration that took place last May.
Afghan President Ashraf Gani, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif are scheduled to attend the meeting that would be presided over by host President Emomali Rahmon.
All four leaders would discuss prospects and measures for improving coordination and interactions aimed at the soonest completion of tender phase and an early start of the construction of the CASA-1000 components.
CASA-1000 project is yet to be kicked off despite of its formal inauguration in May last year due to turbulent law and order situation in Afghanistan where the transmission and distribution line of this hydroelectric project would run to reach Pakistan.
Tajik President Emomali has selected scenic summer resort in Pugus Kulyabskaya Oblast of Tajikistan to host this meeting.
The representatives of the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, United States Agency for International Development and Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, which are partners on the implementation of the CASA-1000 Project would also attend the Summit.
The Heads of delegations of the participating countries would exchange their views on the implementation of the regional project CASA-1000 and would discuss prospects and measures for improving coordination and interactions aimed at the soonest completion of tender phase and an early start of the construction of the CASA-1000 components.
Timely completion of the CASA-1000 Project, optimization of mutually beneficial and close cooperation in energy sphere and continuation of coordination among the participating countries are major points of agenda of the meeting.
According to understanding came out from previous meetings, participants would discuss all necessary steps and measures for rapid completion of tender process and an early start of the construction of the CASA-1000 components, including the construction of a transmission line in the territory of Afghanistan.
Experts from all four countries would also review process to improve tender process in order to accelerate consideration/granting of the contracts.
The issue of management mechanism of the project would also come under discussion and experts are of the view that management mechanism should include system for improving functioning of the Secretariat, organization of meetings of the Inter-Governmental Council no less than twice a year and enhancing involvement of the participating countries in planning process.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are already loaded with electricity and they wish to sell while Pakistan is waiting to receive this cheaper hydroelectricity but grave law and order situation in Afghanistan is hampering the construction of transmission/distribution line because international construction companies are shy to work within Afghanistan.
