KABUL (SW) – The high price of electricity in Balkh has prompted a number of residents of this province to provide their electricity needs by using solar panels.
They say that in recent years, the use of solar panels to access electricity has become popular among people as a good alternative to hydroelectricity.
Hamed, a resident of Balkh, said that after the people’s protests against the high price of electricity in this province were unsuccessful, he switched to using solar electricity. “I decided to get two solar panels and in this way, light up my house because we cannot afford to pay 6.25 afghanis for one kilowatt of electricity,” he said.
Hamidullah, another resident of Balkh who has a similar situation, says: “Solar is useful in our farming; Because the government cannot help us. We have to use solar; Because it is economic.”
Sellers of solar panels in Balkh also say that the interest of the residents of this province to use solar electricity has increased. Bashir Ahmad, a seller of solar panels in this province, said that most of the farmers and villagers use solar energy to provide their electricity. He added: “There are economic problems among people, so people are interested in using solar energy. Most people use solar to light up their homes,” he said.
Sardarwali Saqib, head of Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat in Balkh, confirmed the high price of electricity in this province and said: “We started working to solve this problem and brought the people’s wishes to the leadership positions. We are trying to make the electricity tariffs of Balkh province the same as other provinces.”
Electricity consumption in Jawzjan, Sarp-e-Pul and Faryab costs 3 to 4.5 afghanis per kilowatt, but the residents of Balkh have to pay 6.25 afghanis for every kilowatt of electricit that has made them use solar panels to provide electricity.
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