H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan,
H.E. President Ashraf Ghani,
H.E. Prime Minister of Kyrgzystan
I thank President Rahmon for his invitation to visit Tajikistan and for arranging this essential briefing session on CASA-1000 Power Project. We are grateful for the generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation and for making excellent arrangements for this very important occasion.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Excellencies, CASA-1000 is a flagship project in our region, connecting Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia to Afghanistan and Pakistan in South Asia through an electricity grid.
On its completion, Pakistan and Afghanistan will be able to obtain 1,000 MW and 300 MW, respectively, of electricity in summer time, from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan our two brotherly countries that have abundant water resources enabling them to produce inexpensive and clean hydroelectricity.
This project will help bring a number of economic, social and environmental benefits to member countries and reduce the energy deficit, create jobs, improve trade and reduce carbon dioxide emissions thanks to the supply of clean energy. It will also contribute to regional integration. We must make efforts to ensure that the project is completed well in time.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, This project is an important step toward realization of the planned Central Asia South Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM). It will be a good example of promoting cooperation between energy-deficient South Asia and energy-rich Central Asia.
CASA-1000 Power Project will not only bring revenues to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan but will also mitigate electricity shortages in Pakistan and Afghanistan and increase the prospects for growth. It will also be a source of revenue for Afghanistan opening up greater business and investment opportunities. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to note that the second meeting of Pak-Tajik JWG on Energy and Infrastructure and Technical Committee was held in Dushanbe on 16 March 2017.
It is heartening to know that on 11 May, 2017 five companies have submitted bids for convertor stations including all leading manufacturers like ABB, Seimens, Alstonetc, etc. I have been informed that tenders have been floated for transmission lines from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan and from Tajikistan to Afghanistan. These tenders are being evaluated. I hope that work on these transmission lines would begin very soon.
Excellencies, On behalf of the Government of Pakistan, I wish to reiterate our commitment to the early implementation of the project. We need energy for socio-economic development in Pakistan and to run our industrial sector to its full potential. This will help in generating employment and uplift standard of living of the people of Pakistan. Once again, I thank my Brother Emomali Rahmon and his dedicated team for making excellent arrangements for this briefing session and work accomplished since launching of CASA-1000 Power Project last year.
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