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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Afghanistan and Tajikistan: Regional Power Transmission Interconnection Project

In 2006, the total power generation capacity in Afghanistan declined from 456 megawatts (MW) in the 1990s to about 250 MW in 2005. Much of this generation capacity was destroyed and damaged during the wars. Also, a significant portion of the transmission and distribution networks were damaged and stolen. Only 6%–9% of the population had access to power, of which approximately 30% were in Kabul.

For Tajikistan, the country had a surplus power generation capacity in the summer months that could partially meet Afghanistan’s need. The only way for Tajikistan to export its electricity surplus was to use the Uzbek grid. However, transmission constraints in Uzbekistan meant that Tajikistan was not able to use the Uzbek grid most of the time. Thus, water was being spilled without generating electricity during summer and the potential electricity supply was being wasted.

Tajikistan’s minister of energy and Afghanistan’s minister for energy and water signed a memorandum of understanding on 9 December 2005 to allow Tajikistan to supply 300 MW to Afghanistan during spring and summer and as much as could be provided during autumn and winter. The project provided the opportunity for Afghanistan to meet its power supply deficiencies by importing Tajikistan’s surplus that it could not export.

This report validates the completion report’s assessment of the project, which aimed to enhance regional cooperation in the power sector through transmission inter-connectivity.

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