Kyrgyzstan

The CASA-1000 Project is designed to connect the electric power systems of two Central Asian countries – Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – with two South Asian countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – and develop the arrangements for electricity trade between them compliant with international standards. The scope of the project includes upgrading each countries’ power grids, through the construction of new substations and high-voltage transmission lines which will allow Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to export surplus electric power in the summer period each year to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The primary objective of the CASA-1000 Project in Kyrgyzstan is to implement federal government-level initiatives to enable the power sector to significantly increase the export of power generated by electric power plants. Revenues from this exported power will help eliminate existing cash flow deficiencies in the energy sector, and allow for the refurbishment of power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure within the country.

Construction Activities

Construction of the CASA-1000 500 kV transmission line in Kyrgyzstan is ongoing. The Project’s implementing agency is the joint-stock company “National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan” (NESK) and the transmission line construction contractor is MITAS, Turkey. Under the Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) of the Project, the impact of the Project on the land plots within and adjacent to the Project’s right-of-way was carefully evaluated. The contractor has considered all the recommendations contained in the ESIA and has undertaken specific actions to address them in designing the route and construction plans for the Project.
In total, 456 km of transmission lines will be installed within the territory of Kyrgyzstan with the starting point at the 500 kV switchgear, built specifically for the Project at the existing NESK 500 kV substation at Datka. The line from the Datka substation will then go through the Jalal-Abad, Osh, and Batken regions to the border with Tajikistan.
On April 3, 2021, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, laid a memorial capsule in the foundation of the first tower of the CASA-1000 transmission line in the Batken region. In total, six construction camps have been arranged to build infrastructure assets across the three regions.

Key Players

The Government of Kyrgyzstan, in particular its Ministry of Energy, supports the Project.
The Project’s implementing agencies are NESK and the joint stock company “Electric Power Plants”.
International donors financing construction of the Project’s facilities in the territory of Kyrgyzstan are the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), World Bank Group (through the International Development Association – IDA) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). 

Community Support Programs

The CASA-1000 construction works are complemented by the CASA-1000 Community Support Program (CSP) that seeks to engage target communities in planning, decision-making, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating investments at the local level, as well as conducting capacity building activities.

Implemented by the Community Development and Investment Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic (ARIS) in cooperation with the Aga Khan Foundation, the CASA-1000 CSP in Kyrgyzstan covers 77 villages (located within 36 aiyl aimaks and 5 cities) in Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken oblasts.

The CASA-1000 CSP works in three areas: enhancement of electricity supply, improvement of social infrastructure and services, and provision of funding to income-generating facilities.

Resources

Official website: www.casa-1000.kg
Official pages/accounts in social media: