Kyrgyzstan’s energy ministry has unveiled its National Energy Program extending to 2035, which includes plans for exporting electricity to Pakistan next year in collaboration with Tajikistan.
This initiative is part of the CASA-1000 project, a significant regional power project aimed at supplying electricity to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan anticipates exporting approximately 1.25 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to South Asia in 2025. This surplus electricity is generated in the summer when Kyrgyzstan’s reservoirs are full and its hydroelectric power plants are highly productive. In contrast, the country faces electricity shortages during the winter months.
Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan signed a joint declaration with Pakistan and Tajikistan to resume the CASA-1000 project. Additionally, Kyrgyzstan has begun constructing high-voltage power lines near its border with Tajikistan. This construction had previously been halted due to a border conflict between Bishkek and Dushanbe.
The project’s progress had also been impeded by the World Bank’s suspension of development assistance to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s rise to power. However, with the recent agreements, the CASA-1000 project is set to move forward, highlighting the cooperation between Central and South Asian nations in addressing regional energy needs.
