ABB will be part of $330 million consortium project to transmit clean hydropower from Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic to high demand areas in Pakistan
From any plant to any plug, ABB is a major partner in helping companies, countries and communities around the world solve their most vital and complex energy challenges.
Today, we are pleased to announce that ABB has won a large order to provide its hallmark high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology to an ambitious project in Central and South Asia. The project, which will enable the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to transmit electricity to high demand areas in Pakistan, will provide more access to reliable power in the region, address growing demand and spur economic growth.
The $330 million project – known as the CASA-1000 link – will be executed with consortium partner Cobra, a leading Spanish engineering, procurement and construction company.
The CASA-1000 project, which is supported by the World Bank, is part of a Pakistan government initiative to address the country’s increasing demand for electricity. It will also enable the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to better utilize their hydropower resources. The mountainous regions in Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan have some of the world’s most abundant hydro resources, especially in the spring and summer, when the ice melts and rushes into the rivers, creating a surplus of clean energy. These hotter months are also when Pakistan experiences increased demand for power which need to be managed. Reliable electricity supply can have a significant impact on people and industry in the region, facilitating economic and social development. To address this, ABB will supply high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations as part of the CASA-1000 project that will enable the efficient transmission of clean hydropower over 800 kilometers of challenging terrain.
Commenting on this major new project, Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Grids division, said, “ABB’s advanced HVDC solution will bring much needed and clean electricity to consumers and enable the sharing of resources by interconnecting the region. This project is another example of our commitment to integrating renewables and reinforces ABB’s position as a partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”
ABB pioneered HVDC technology more than 60 years ago and has been awarded more than 120 HVDC projects representing a total installed capacity of more than 130,000 MW, accounting for around half of the global installed base. This technology facilitates the transmission of bulk electricity over long distances and has been widely deployed to transmit renewable sources of power from remote locations to denser urban areas.
Learn more about ABB’s role in the CASA-1000 Link here.
