Press Release

New 9MW Diesel Power Plant for Kandahar

Kandahar, Afghanistan  | Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A nine megawatt diesel power plant went on line in Kandahar on December 1, providing increased electricity to homes and businesses to Kandahar city.

The Ministry of Energy and Water moved five underutilized 2200 kVA generators from Kabul to Kandahar in April, 2008.  The Afghan Electrical Power Corporation, contracted through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), installed and overhauled the generators.  USAID assisted by purchasing the transformers and synchronization equipment, installing fuel lines, and connecting the generators with the Afghan utility (DABM) substation.

According to Fazal Ahmad, Kandahar Power Manager for DABM, “This power plant will have an immediate effect on many people’s lives here in Kandahar. The nine megawatts of power produced by the new generators will feed into the local distribution system and ultimately benefit some 9,000 families, plus numerous small business and industrial enterprises.”

This power plant, combined with the adjacent 14 megawatt power station, will help to meet increased demands for electricity in Kandahar city.  The city’s long-term power source will be the Kajaki hydro power plant, which is currently being refurbished and expanded with USAID financing. When the Kajaki upgrade is complete and new transmission lines have been installed, the Kajaki power station will contribute a total of 51 MW of power to the southern electrical grid.