ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (ABC): Pakistan has substantially completed its infrastructure under the CASA-1000 Electricity Transmission and Trade Project, with overall progress reaching 99.7% on the converter station and 99.5% on the associated electrode station.
According to a project status document available with Wealth Pakistan, the Pakistan-side infrastructure includes a bi-pole ±500kV high-voltage direct-current converter station and a 66kV grounding electrode station.
Most construction and installation work has already been completed. However, full testing and commissioning of the Pakistan facilities will depend on completion of the transmission line through Afghanistan.
Converter station reaches 99.7%
The converter station has achieved 99.7% overall progress.
Engineering and design work stands at 97%, while procurement has reached 100%. Civil works and installation have both reached 99.9%.
Testing and commissioning have progressed to 99%, leaving only a small portion of work outstanding.
The associated 66kV grounding electrode station has also reached an advanced stage, recording overall progress of 99.5%.
Engineering and design work on the electrode station is 100% complete. Procurement, civil works and installation have each reached 99%, while testing and commissioning stand at 98%.
Full commissioning awaits Afghanistan transmission line
According to the document, Pakistan has substantially completed its component of CASA-1000. However, the project cannot undergo full system testing and commissioning until the Afghanistan transmission segment becomes available.
The Afghanistan transmission line is expected to be completed in September 2027.
Until then, the converter and electrode stations will remain under the care and custody of M/s Hitachi from April 1, 2026, to February 29, 2028.
The project status document places the expected start of commercial operations on May 1, 2028.
Pakistan’s remaining activities will therefore largely involve testing and commissioning once the Afghanistan transmission infrastructure becomes available.
Pakistan component backed by two World Bank loans
Two World Bank loans support the Pakistan component of CASA-1000.
The first loan, IDA-54090-PK, has a total amount of $120 million. Of this, $99.437 million, or 82.86%, has been utilised.
The document lists an unutilised amount of $9.742 million under the loan.
Pakistan signed the first loan agreement on May 11, 2015, and it became effective on January 24, 2018.
The second loan, IDA-64320-PK, amounts to $65 million. Utilisation has reached $56.821 million, or 87.41%, while the document lists $5.690 million as unutilised.
The second loan agreement was signed on November 26, 2019, and became effective on May 15, 2020.
Both loans have a closing date of December 31, 2028.
With the converter and electrode stations nearing 100% completion, Pakistan has largely finished the physical infrastructure required for its CASA-1000 component. Full system testing and commissioning will follow once the transmission segment through Afghanistan becomes available.
