Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project -1000

What Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project -1000 does

CASA-1000 (Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project) is a multilateral intergovernmental infrastructure initiative — not a commercial enterprise — designed to transmit up to 1,300 MW (4.6 billion kWh/year initially) of surplus summer hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to electricity-deficient Afghanistan and Pakistan. The project is structured around 1,387 km of high-voltage transmission lines: 484 km of HVAC lines from Datka (Kyrgyzstan) to Sugd (Tajikistan), 114 km of HVAC between Regar and Sangtuda within Tajikistan, and 789 km of HVDC linking Sangtuda (Tajikistan) to Nowshera (Pakistan) through Afghan territory. Two new HVDC converter stations at Sangtuda and Nowshera provide the interface between HVAC and HVDC sections, with equipment supplied by Hitachi Energy. Owner Engineering is delivered by CESI (HVDC) and Monenco (HVAC).

The project is governed by an Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) of ministerial-level representatives from the four participating countries, established in 2007 following the Dushanbe (2006) and Kabul (2007) Memoranda of Understanding. The CASA-1000 Secretariat, set up in 2008 and funded by USAID since 2011, coordinates implementation. Core Project Agreements (CPAs) were signed in Istanbul in April 2015, and the Islamabad Agreement (2008) anchored the broader Central Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM) framework. Five foundational 15-year Power Purchase Agreements govern electricity sales, with an Integrated Digital Awareness System over dedicated fiber optics enabling real-time coordination across six power companies under a common HVDC Technical Code.

Economically, the $1.2 billion project is funded by a consortium of six international development institutions — World Bank/IDA, Islamic Development Bank, European Investment Bank, EBRD, UK FCDO, and USAID — and is supported by construction contractors including MITAS (Kyrgyzstan), Netracon (Pakistan), and others. Construction contracts were awarded from December 2017 through November 2020; physical construction began in 2018. Revenue mechanics rely on transaction-based electricity trade (Kyrgyzstan exports ~1,500 GWh/year; Tajikistan ~3,000 GWh/year), transit fees earned by Afghanistan, and a Community Benefit Sharing mechanism. The project does not operate as a revenue-generating commercial company; it is an intergovernmental infrastructure asset whose financial flows are governed by sovereign PPAs and multilateral development accounting rather than market pricing.

Name

Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project -1000

Legal name

Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000)

Website

https://casa-1000.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CASA-1000 is a multilateral intergovernmental infrastructure project building 1,387 km of high-voltage transmission lines and two HVDC converter stations to enable 1,300 MW of seasonal electricity trade between Central Asian exporters (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) and South Asian importers (Afghanistan, Pakistan), funded by a consortium of six international development institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cross-Border Electricity Transmission

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control (221121), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAEABAD

HVDC Converter Stations & HVDC Transmission EPC

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Infrastructure & Services (EPC, O&M, Field Services)/Transmission & Substation EPC (High Voltage)

SECONDARYIMAFAHAI

HVDC Converter Stations & FACTS Infrastructure Construction

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Power & Utility Infrastructure Construction (T&D, Substations)

SECONDARYEUAMAFAE

Substations, Transformers & Grid Step-Up Facilities (EHV Substations, GSU Transformers)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Renewable EPC & Construction (Balance of Plant)

SECONDARYEUADAIAM

Network Engineering, Integration & Field Deployment Services (Design, Build, Test)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Electric Transmission & Distribution (T&D)/Grid Communications Networks (Fiber, RF Mesh, LTE/5G)

Keywords

• Cross-border electricity transmission
• High-voltage power infrastructure
• Regional electricity trading
• Hydropower transmission systems
• Intergovernmental energy project

Headquarters

HQ city

Almaly

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Electricity Trade Revenue: Revenue generated from selling surplus hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kyrgyzstan exports approximately 1,500 GWh/year and Tajikistan exports approximately 3,000 GWh/year to South Asia. The project transmits 4.6 billion kWh/year initially.
2. Transit Fees for Afghanistan: Afghanistan earns revenue from transit fees for electricity passing through its territory to Pakistan
3. Community Benefit Sharing: Revenue sharing mechanism providing communities along the transmission corridor with a share of energy transaction revenues during the operation phase

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CASA-1000 constructs and will operate a cross-border high-voltage electricity transmission system connecting four countries (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan) to enable seasonal trade of surplus Central Asian hydropower to South Asian markets. The infrastructure comprises 1,387 km of HVAC and HVDC transmission lines, two HVDC converter stations, and supporting governance and trading arrangements. The system will deliver an initial 4.6 billion kWh/year of electricity at 1,300 MW capacity, with revenue generated through transaction fees on electricity sales, transit fees, and a community benefit-sharing mechanism.

Product overview

CASA-1000 is a multinational power transmission infrastructure project comprising a unified system of high-voltage electricity transmission infrastructure. The core offering consists of HVAC transmission lines (484 km from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan, plus 114 km internal Tajikistan segment) and HVDC transmission lines (789 km from Tajikistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan), connected through two HVDC converter stations at Sangtuda and Nowshera. The project enables seasonal electricity trade between Central Asian hydropower producers (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) and South Asian consumers (Afghanistan, Pakistan), with a total capacity of 1,300 MW. Supporting the core transmission infrastructure are complementary services including the Community Support Program (CSP) for local development along the corridor, DC Operator services for system management, and electricity trade facilitation through power purchase agreements. The system transmits 4.6 billion kWh/year to start.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HVAC Transmission Lines (Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan) High voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission lines spanning 484 km from Datka substation in Kyrgyzstan to Sugd substation in Tajikistan, enabling transmission of Kyrgyz electricity exports to the HVDC corridor.
• HVAC Transmission Lines (Tajikistan Internal) 114 km of HVAC transmission lines between the Regar and Sangtuda substations in Tajikistan, with associated grid improvements connecting the internal Tajik grid to the HVDC section.
• HVDC Transmission Line (Sangtuda-Nowshera) High voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line spanning 789 km linking the Sangtuda HVDC Converter Station in Tajikistan to the Nowshera HVDC Converter Station in Pakistan, crossing Afghanistan.
• HVDC Converter Station (Sangtuda, Tajikistan) HVDC converter station located in Sangtuda, Tajikistan that acts as the link between HVAC and HVDC sections of the project, enabling conversion of power between alternating and direct current for long-distance transmission.
• HVDC Converter Station (Nowshera, Pakistan) HVDC converter station located in Nowshera, Pakistan that links power imported via the HVDC line to Pakistan's existing HVAC transmission network.
• Community Support Program (CSP) Community benefit-sharing program across all four participating countries that engages communities in planning, decision-making, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of local development projects along the transmission corridor.
• Electricity Trade Facilitation Services Commercial and institutional arrangements facilitating transparent, sustainable electricity trade between Central Asian exporters (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) and South Asian importers (Afghanistan, Pakistan), including power purchase agreements (PPAs) and market operations.
• DC Operator Services Operational coordination services for the HVDC transmission system including physical operation, operational coordination, maintenance, and market operation functions to ensure safe and efficient system management.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• NESK (National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing agency in Kyrgyzstan responsible for the 500 kV transmission line construction; joint-stock company operating the national electric grid.
• MITAS (Turkey)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTurkish contractor responsible for transmission line construction in Kyrgyzstan. Awarded EPC contract for 456 km of transmission lines.
• Barqi Tojik (Tajikistan National Power Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTajik national power utility company; profits from electricity exports will contribute to financial recovery and infrastructure reconstruction.
• OSHC Barqi TojikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Joint-Stock Holding Company Barqi Tojik - national power company of Tajikistan responsible for power generation and distribution.
• JSC Shabakakhoi Intikoli BarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransmission company in Tajikistan responsible for transmission infrastructure under the project.
• Project Management Center of the Electricity Sector (PMCES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-owned enterprise implementing agency in Tajikistan for the electricity sector projects.
• Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfghanistan national power utility; responsible for electricity imports from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through the project.
• National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) - PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMandated by Pakistan Ministry of Energy as implementing agency for CASA-1000 in Pakistan. Constituted Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for execution and monitoring.
• Aga Khan FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner with ARIS for Community Support Program in Kyrgyzstan; supports community-driven development activities along the transmission corridor.
• ARIS (Community Development and Investment Agency of Kyrgyz Republic)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment agency implementing the Community Support Program in Kyrgyzstan covering 77 villages in Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken oblasts.
• Inter-Governmental Council (IGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoverning body of CASA-1000 established by the four participating countries in 2007, comprising ministerial-level representatives responsible for project decisions.
• CASA-1000 SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2008 by IGC to support project development and implementation; coordinates communications between stakeholders; funded by USAID since 2011.
• CESI (HVDC Owner Engineer)keyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged as Owner Engineer for HVDC components; advising CASA-1000 National Transmission Companies on EPC Contractor performance.
• Monenco (HVAC Owner Engineer)keyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged as Owner Engineer for HVAC components; advising CASA-1000 National Transmission Companies on EPC Contractor performance.
• Hitachi EnergykeyTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer and technology provider for HVDC converter stations; equipment specifications for the Nowshera converter station based on manufacturer requirements.
• Netracon (Pakistan)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for TW02 HVDC transmission line construction in Pakistan (113 km, 376 towers between Nowshera and Afghanistan border).
• UN-HabitatkeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAwarded contract for Community Benefit Sharing study in Afghanistan as part of the benefit-sharing mechanism for the project.
• SABAWON (Pakistan)keyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAwarded contract for Community Benefit Sharing study in Pakistan as part of the benefit-sharing mechanism for the project.
• Foundation to Support Civil Society Initiatives (Tajikistan)keyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAwarded contract for Community Benefit Sharing study in Central Asian countries (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EuroAsia Interconnector: A planned 2,000 MW HVDC submarine interconnection linking Israel, Cyprus, and Greece for cross-border electricity trade. Directly comparable as a multilateral cross-border HVDC transmission project designed to enable electricity market integration across previously disconnected national grids.
• NordLink: A 1,400 MW HVDC subsea interconnector between Norway and Germany enabling cross-border electricity trade between hydropower and demand markets. Directly comparable in technology (HVDC), cross-border trade structure, and seasonal complementarity between surplus renewables and demand peaks.
• SuedLink: A 700 km HVDC onshore transmission corridor in Germany designed to move wind-generated electricity from north to south. Comparable in long-distance HVDC transmission EPC, converter station deployment, and multi-stakeholder regulatory coordination, though operating in a single national jurisdiction.
• NordBalt: A 700 MW HVDC subsea interconnection between Sweden and Lithuania enabling cross-border electricity trade. Comparable as a cross-border HVDC transmission asset linking a hydropower-rich system to a deficit market, with similar converter station and cable-system engineering.

Regional players

• Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAPI) Pipeline: A flagship regional energy infrastructure project transiting Afghanistan to deliver Turkmen gas to Pakistan and India. Comparable as a multilateral, multi-donor infrastructure initiative traversing the same Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor and facing similar geopolitical and security execution risks.
• Central Asian Power System (CAPS) / Barki Tojik Interconnections: The legacy interconnected grid linking the Central Asian republics for coordinated power flows. Comparable as the existing regional transmission backbone CASA-1000 connects into, with overlapping counterparties (Barki Tojik, NESK) and shared hydropower-generation geography.

Broad incumbents

• ASEAN Power Grid: A regional multilateral initiative to interconnect ASEAN national power grids via HVDC and HVAC transmission. Comparable as an intergovernmental framework for cross-border electricity trade with HVDC infrastructure components and a coordinating secretariat model.
• West Africa Power Pool (WAPP): A regional electricity market and interconnection platform among 14 West African utilities. Comparable as a multilateral, multi-donor regional electricity-trade initiative combining HVDC/HVAC transmission with a coordinating secretariat and PPA framework — at a larger geographic scale.
• Southern African Power Pool (SAPP): A regional electricity-trading platform connecting 12 southern African national utilities through shared transmission infrastructure. Comparable as a multilateral cross-border electricity market with coordinated power flows, PPAs, and a coordinating secretariat funded by development institutions.

Emerging players

• SAARC Regional Energy Ring Concept: A long-proposed framework for cross-border electricity trade among South Asian nations, conceptually extending CASA-1000's market into a wider regional grid. Comparable in intergovernmental governance, multilateral financing approach, and South Asian demand profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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