Signed by EBRD Energy and Natural Resources managing director Riccardo Puliti and National Bank of Tajikistan 1st deputy chairman Djamoliddin Nuraliev, the MoU details the modernization agenda in support of the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA)-1000 cross-border electricity transmission project.
The reform agenda is the precondition required for funding the CASA 1000 project.
The CASA 1000 project aims to facilitate electricity trade between the Central Asian countries of Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic and the South Asian countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In particular, the project involves development of a transmission line to bring hydro-generated electricity from the two Central Asian countries, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The project’s domestic transmission infrastructure modernization segment will be financed by EBRD.
The funding will be subject to modernization of Tajikistan’s state-owned energy company Barki Tojik.
As part of upgrade program, Barki Tojik will launch an independent energy regulator as well as set out rules for third-party access to the transmission line.
The EBRD has already provided $75m loan to upgrade the Qairokkum hydropower plant in Tajikistan.
