Monday, February 23, 2015
Kabul (BNA) The in-charges of Breshna Sherkat (Breshna Company) say that if the itinerary of CASA-1000 be changed, beside creating some other problems, delay in its implementation would need much fund, while the money of this project is paid by one of contributors to Afghanistan.
The project of CASA-1000 is one of the greatest projects of transmitting of power in the region that based on the same, 1300 mgw electricity to be transmitted from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The main itinerary of this project passes through the provinces of Kunduz, Baghlan, Panjsher, Kapisa, Parwan, Kabul and Nangarhar and reaches to Pakistan.
But it is said that in a fresh measure, the Breshna Sherkat is demanded that the itinerary of this project be changed from Baghlan to Bamyan, Parwan, Kabul and Nangarhar.
The operational head of Breshna Sherkat, Ahmad Shekeb Nesar says that the studies made by Asian Development Bank show that Salang is better than Bamyan and needs lesser fund.
At the same time, a number of Bamyan deputies lay emphasize on changing the itinerary of this project to Bamyan.
The Bamyan representative in Parliament, Abdurrahman Shahdani has stated that his proposal to government is this that the project of CASA-1000 should pass through Bamyan itinerary, because, there are two coal mines in Bamyan. It would help the project and on the other, comparing Salang, it is smooth.
On the other, a number of witnesses in economic affairs believe that changing the itinerary of the project is based on personal interest not in the benefit of the country and say that this would cause dissension among people and finally would cause a great challenge for implementation of the project.
An economic expert, Aziz Asefi in the connection said that if the itinerary of the project be changed on the basis of personal interest, it harms the people and government should pay serious attention in this regard.
Now, the CASA-1000 project is passing through procurement process and it is possible that its practical work to be started soon. But, it is said that if the itinerary of the project be changed, this needs studies and fund and would face the project with serious challenge.
Based on information given previously by World Bank, the expenditure of CASA-1000 project is estimated about $1billion and 16 million. World Bank,USA, European Union, Britain and Islamic Development Bank are from among greater contributors of the project.
The work on CASA-1000 project has begun in 2006 and is one of the important regional projects of Central Asia and government of Afghanistan that enjoys great economic and political importance in the region.
Within utilization of this project, it is considered that till 1300 mgw power produced by Tajikistan and Kirghizstan be exported to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The electricity needed by Afghanistan from this project is estimated 300 mgw and remaining 1000 mgw power to be transmitted to Pakistan.
With construction of its basic infrastructures, it is possible that further power to be transmitted.
Based on recent assertions of Breshna Shirkat, a number of Kabul citizens say that if the work of the project be delayed on the basis new studies and changing of its itinerary, the people of Afghanistan never benefit from the light of electricity permanently.
They want from those who are in-charge in construction of CASA-1000 project that this project should be implemented as soon as possible, because, if it is planned that we use the imported electricity for good, it is not in the benefit of our people and would follow economic harms.
