Uzbekistan and Afghanistan ink agreements for four energy-related ventures totalling an estimated $243 million
Afghanistan has signed contracts worth $243 million with Uzbekistan for four major energy projects aimed at improving the country's electricity supply. The contracts were announced by Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) on Aug. 17.
The four projects include:
- The construction of the 500 kV Surkhan–Dasht-e-Alwan transmission line, a new 200.6 km transmission line from southern Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, and the expansion of the Khodja-Alvan substation.
- The expansion of the Arghandi substation with a capacity increased to 800 MVA (megavolt-amperes) to support greater electricity throughput.
- The construction of the 220 kV Kabul–Sheikh Mesri transmission line, a new double-circuit transmission line about 125 km long running from the Butkhak substation in Kabul to the Sheikh Mesri substation in Nangarhar province, with a capacity of 800 MW.
- The construction of the Sheikh Mesri substation in Nangarhar province, with a 126 MVA capacity, enhancing local power distribution.
These projects were signed by Afghanistan’s national energy company DABS and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy, in the presence of Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and Uzbek Energy Minister Joʻrabek Mirzamahmudov.
The upgrades are critical because Afghanistan imports over 70–80% of its electricity, mainly from neighbors like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, a supply that is often unreliable due to regional demand fluctuations.
DABS CEO Abdul Bari Omar stated that these four agreements are vital for ensuring a reliable electricity supply in Afghanistan. The projects, scheduled for completion within 18 months, include expanding key power lines and substations, and building new energy infrastructure to strengthen Afghanistan's electricity network.
In addition to the four energy projects, a separate 10-year power purchase agreement was signed between DABS and Uzbek companies during the ceremony. The projects aim to improve the reliability of Afghanistan's electricity supply by enabling the country to import between 800 and 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Uzbekistan.
The signing ceremony took place in Kabul, Afghanistan, and was attended by various government officials, including DABS CEO Abdul Bari Omar. The contracts were announced according to Xinhua.
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