KABUL (SW) – A local firm has won the $25 million solar power generation contracts, officials from the Ministry of Energy and Water stated.
Officials announced the signing of the contract with the local company “Aufi Bahram” to implement three solar power projects totaling eight megawatts.
Abdul Latif Mansoor, the Acting Minister of the Energy and Water, said that these solar power projects will be implemented in three provinces. He added, “In the provinces of Farah, Uruzgan, and Paktika, solar power networks valued at $25 million will be activated, and electricity will be provided. In Uruzgan, people are in dire need as they currently do not have access to electricity.”
Officials from the Aufi Bahram company said that these projects will provide the necessary electricity to thousands of families in the provinces.
Noorullah, the deputy of the company, stated, “With the implementation of these projects, thousands of families will be benefited from two megawatts in Paktika, three megawatts in Uruzgan, and three megawatts in Farah.”
However, some residents of Paktika, Uruzgan, and Farah have complained about power outages and are calling on the de-facto government to provide the electricity they need.
Mohammad, a resident of Farah, said they only have four hours of electricity in a day. “Most hours we don’t have electricity; the electricity comes at seven in the evening and lasts until eleven at night, after which we have no electricity.”
Hamidullah Hamim, a resident of Paktika, mentioned that their electricity is supplied by several private companies, and the cost is very high. “We want the government to provide electricity so that everyone has access.”
Jahed, a resident of Uruzgan, also urged the de-facto government to provide the electricity they need. “We ask the caretaker government to pay attention to us and provide the necessary electricity to meet our needs,” he said.
According to the solar power map of Afghanistan, the country has the capacity to produce 222,849 megawatts of electricity. Officials from the Ministry of Energy and Water stated that the current production of solar power exceeds 50 megawatts.
