Afghanistan to import 300 MW power from Uzbekistan

Nov 14, 2006 - Xinhua

The war-ravaged and energy-thirsty Afghanistan has inked agreement with Uzbekistan to import 300 MW electricity from its central Asian neighbor, Presidential spokesman Mohammad Karim Rahimi said in Kabul on Tuesday.

"Afghan Minister for Water and Power Mohammad Ismael Khan signed the accord during his recent visit to Uzbekistan," Rahimi told newsmen at a press briefing.

Work on the installation of the transmission lines and poles has already begun from the border town of Hiratan, he said.

The project would be completed within the next 18 months and thus, Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, would have sufficient power, Xingua of China reported.

Similar agreement has already been inked with Tajikistan.

Less than 10 percent of Afghans have access to electricity while in the capital city Kabul, around 70 percent of the residents enjoy electricity, according to the Minister for Water and Power.

Khan also said a few days ago that Kabul, with a population of over 4 million, needs more than 1,000 MW power. To overcome the problem, Afghanistan has to import electricity from neighboring countries besides building more power plants in the country.