Pakistan is considering the option of importing coal from Kyrgyzstan to use for power generation, until the country is able to fully shift to using coal from the Thar region.

The Pakistani ambassador to Kyrgyzstan met with the Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Energy and discussed energy cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Kyrgyz official expressed satisfaction that the stalled CASA-1000 project has been resumed, and expressed optimism that the project will be completed by the end of 2026.

The CASA-1000 project is a plan to transmit electricity from hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Energy also conveyed that the Kyrgyz Energy Minister is interested in having a telephone call with his Pakistani counterpart, the Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari.

During this proposed call, the two ministers are expected to discuss two main topics: 1) the potential supply of coal from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan, and 2) the supply of electricity from Pakistan to Kyrgyzstan during the winter season through the CASA-1000 project.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the 46th session of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Joint Ministerial Commission, the then-caretaker Energy Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali, met with the Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Energy and explored the possibility of importing coal from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan.

The Pakistani side also offered to provide electricity to Kyrgyzstan during the winter months through the CASA-1000 network.

As a follow-up, a Joint Working Group has been agreed upon to hold further discussions on the issues discussed between the two ministers. The Kyrgyz side has now requested that Pakistan share the composition of its representatives on this Joint Working Group.

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