Energy in Afghanistan - Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectric plants were built between the 1950s and the mid 1970s, which included the Sarbobi hydroelectric power plant in Kabul Province, the Naghlu in the eastern Nangarhar Province, the Kajaki in Helmand Province and a number of others. Other hydroelectric facilities that were operational as of 2002 included plants at Puli Khumri, Darunta in Nangarhar Province, Dahla in Kandahar Province, and one in Mazar-i-Sharif. Also in operation was the Breshna-Kot Dam in Nangarhar, which had a generating capacity of 11.5 MW. Construction of two more power stations, with a combined capacity of 600 kW, was planned in Charikar City.

The southern region of Afghanistan is lacking adequate electricity due to problems with the Kajaki power plant in Helmand, which has been destroyed and neglected for many years. A third generating turbine is being added with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This will add 16.5 MW to its generating capacity and eventually provide the southern Afghan cities of Kandahar and Lashkar Gah with 24-hour electricity once the Kajaki project is completed. A number of other water mega dams are being built in different parts of the country, which are mainly for irrigation purposes.