CASA-1000

The Central Asia-South Asia power project, commonly known by the acronym CASA-1000, is a $1.16 billion project currently under construction that will allow for the export of surplus hydroelectricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Groundbreaking for the project took place in May 2016 by leaders of the four nations. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2025.

Project details
The project will allow for the export of 1,300 megawatts of electricity during the summer months when both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan experience surplus electricity generation from hydroelectric dams.

High voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations will also be included as part of the project, as well as a 477 kilometer long, 500 kilovolt alternating current transmission line between Datka, Kyrgyzstan and Khujand, Tajikistan. A 1,300 MW AC/DC converter station will be constructed in the city of Sangtuda, Tajikistan. A 750 km HVDC line will be constructed between Sangtuda, Tajikistan and the city of Nowshera, Pakistan, via Afghanistan. A 1,300 MW DC/AC converter station will also be constructed in Nowshera, Pakistan and it will be connected to Pakistan's electric grid. The transmission line is designed to transmit up to 1,300 MW of electricity to Pakistan.

Additionally, an existing 220 kV AC line between Tajikistan and Afghanistan will be modified for a back-to-back HVDC connection. The modification will allow Afghanistan to draw up to 300 MW more power from the existing 220kV transmission line.

The project was inaugurated in February 2020, in a ceremony attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and then-Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Zahid Nasrullah Khan. As of March 2021, approximately 30% of the project covering Afghanistan was completed. In June 2021, Panjshir governor Kamaluddin Nezami consulted with citizens' and local government representatives on "social obstacles" to the CASA-1000 project.