Posted on 05/06/2006 8:55:19 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The United States has outlined an ambitious energy project to develop the energy sources of the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia.
The plan would develop a regional power grid from Kazakhstan to India.
The grid would feed the growing energy needs of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and help integrate the economies of Central and South Asia.
The far-reaching plan would also reduce Central Asia's reliance on routes through Russia for its energy exports.
The US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher, presented the plan to committee in Congress.
He explained how the development of a power grid through Afghanistan would enable the energy-rich nations of Central Asia to sell electricity to energy-poor India and Pakistan.
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We want to give South Asians access to the vast and rapidly growing energy resources in Central Asia
Richard Boucher
US Assistant Secretary of State
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The impoverished mountainous republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan both want to develop their large hydro-electricity potential.
Kazakhstan, with abundant oil and gas, is rapidly becoming a top energy producer while Turkmenistan has some of the world's largest gas reserves.
India and Pakistan have both been seeking ways to import Central Asian oil, gas and electricity to fuel their expanding economies.
Historic ties
Even Afghanistan now needs more energy as its war shattered economy begins to recover.
Mr Boucher said the opening up of Afghanistan meant that it should now be seen as a bridge not an obstacle between Central and South Asia.
Historically, Central Asia always had close ties with Afghanistan and India until they were broken by Soviet isolationism imposed by Moscow.
But continuing insecurity in parts of Afghanistan has long prevented the rebuilding of economic ties. Now American officials and other observers say the best way to reintegrate Afghanistan and to improve stability in the entire region is to boost economic integration.
Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has been increasing its efforts to recover lost economic influence in Central Asia, but US policy has long been to wean the Central Asian republics away from their old reliance on Moscow.
>>As far as the cost, while the US will certainly put up some money, most of the money could be loaned through the World Bank or some other similar agency. To prevent the countries from defaulting on their loans, there would be the transmission grid and power plants that could be used as collateral.<<
that sounds much better than American tax payer funding.
Excellent point! And absolutely true.
With minimal sarcasm I say, good old government interference saves the day! Gee, why do American capitalists hate government interference so much? It works so well for them.
We ought to piss off the Russians for the right reasons only. More to the point, who is paying for all this? World-wide dollar diplomacy is going to quickly turn from being a futile gesture to a great way to bankrupt the country. Wars are expensive enough.
The impoverished mountainous republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan both want to develop their large hydro-electricity potential. ==
Large hydroelectricity potential? Both countries doesn't have no major river:).
Kazakhstan, with abundant oil and gas, is rapidly becoming a top energy producer while Turkmenistan has some of the world's largest gas reserves. ==
Kazakstan has something and Turkmenistand too. But both counries rulked by nondemocartic regimes. Seems like it is not important here but important about Russia. DOuble morality isn' it?:)
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