One moment...

USAID | Afghanistan

From the American People

Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Program (IRP) - Power (LBG/B&V)

Skip google map

Program

Infrastructure (Stabilizing, improving access, and expanding reliable energy services )

Dates

March 2009 - August 2011

The Afghanistan Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Program (IRP) is improving and expanding Afghanistan’s power and transportation infrastructure. Over the life of the program, this project has provided technical and executive direction as well as administrative support to more than 25 projects in the transport, energy, and construction sectors. This work includes providing helicopter services to reach the project sites; project monitoring services, including evaluations and baseline studies to measure project impact; and strategic communications to highlight successes. USAID also uses specialized services on a quick-response basis to meet emergency requests for assistance from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA). For example, IRP provided such assistance to study power needs in the volatile south of the country to assist in project planning.

Active Task Orders

Initiation of Purchase of Generator Sets for Kabul (May 2007-July 2010)
The objective of this USAID-funded project is to provide more reliable power supply to the people of Afghanistan. President Karzai issued a decree on September 19, 2007, dedicating land just outside Kabul on the Jalalabad Road for the construction of the 100 MW Tarakhil Power Plant. Two months later, land survey and site cleanup work began. In short order, contractors were hired to build a three-kilometer stone perimeter wall and to de-mine the project area. Geotechnical investigations began, followed by detailed design, site development, and construction work on the plant. On August 5, 2009, President Hamid Karzai, Minister of Energy and Water Ismail Khan, and U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenbery inaugurated the initial 35 MW of electricity at the power plant. The now completed 100-megawatt (MW) power plant in Kabul consists of 18 medium-speed diesel engines, each of approximately 6.3 MW. The 100 MW power plant can provide electricity to more than 600,000 residents in Kabul and those living in communities supported by the North East Power System (NEPS). Together with the power already being imported from Uzbekistan and energy expected to arrive from Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, the power generated by the new plant will help improve the quality of life for Kabul residents and others living in communities served by the NEPS. The availability of reliable power is expected to lead to increased sales of electrical appliances and enable businesses and schools to remain open longer. Investment in new industrial and commercial enterprises might also occur, leading to new job opportunities and economic growth.

Advisor to the Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Energy (September 2007-August 2011)
Afghanistan’s public electricity sector lacks adequate levels of human resources and organization. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) and the international community have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to develop and build a wide variety of projects to improve electricity supply. One major project for increasing the power supply to Kabul is the North-East Power System (NEPS), supported by many stakeholders and donors. To bring together the various ministries that have an impact on the electric power sector, the government created the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Energy (ICE) and appointed a secretariat to support it. The government also created a working group to support the Ministry of Energy and Water. The objective of this USAID-funded project is to provide long-term technical assistance and support through advisors to the ICE Secretariat. Advising the ICE involves a multi-disciplined, multi-pronged approach within the Afghan government and the donor community to produce positive and sustainable results. The Asian Development Bank, USAID, the World Bank, GTZ (a federally owned organization supporting the German Government in achieving its development objectives), and other donors provide technical advisors. Together, these advisors provide inputs to the ICE Secretariat to develop solutions in their areas of responsibilities and expertise.

Advisor to the Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Energy (ICE) 8/15/2010

Reactive Power Compensation for NEPS (June 2008-November 2010)
The objective of this USAID-funded project is to procure and install reactors and capacitors for identified substations in the Northeast Power System (NEPS). The project is a component of NEPS, along with other ongoing and proposed donor-funded projects to interconnect the northeastern areas of the country. Upon completion, the NEPS voltage level will be maintained within established system operating limits, system losses will be minimized, and power transmitted for NEPS from all resources will be maximized. The ultimate goal of NEPS is to provide least-cost energy to Kabul and northeastern Afghanistan from northern Afghanistan and its neighbors to the north – Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Considerable growth of industrial, commercial, and residential loads is anticipated in the northeastern part of Afghanistan during the next few years. Further electricity demands are inevitable and it is anticipated that Afghanistan will import a total of around 300 megawatts of power from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan by 2010-2011.

National Load Control Center (June 2008-July 2011)
The objective of this USAID-funded project is to manage an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to install a National Load Control Center (NLCC) for the North East Power System (NEPS). The ultimate goal of NEPS is to provide reliable and affordable energy from northern Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to Kabul and northeastern Afghanistan. More energy is needed for industrial, commercial, and residential users to power economic growth and to improve the quality of life. The NLCC project is one component of NEPS, which includes a series of ongoing projects to interconnect the electricity grids in northeastern Afghanistan. The NLCC system will be equipped with a supervisory control and data acquisition system and related equipment needed to electronically monitor and control NEPs generation and transmission to enhance the reliability, effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of NEPS operations.

Kabul Electricity Directorate (KED) Commercialization Contract Advisory Support (May 2010-May 2011)
USAID has been assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the commercialization and management of the Kabul Electricity Directorate (KED) and the newly formed national electricity utility, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS). The scope of this project has changed to focus on commercializing the electricity distribution services in Kandahar and to build the capacity of DABS Kandahar to operate on a full cost recovery basis. The U.S., the World Bank and other international donors have worked closely with Afghanistan’s government to establish DABS as a commercialized, public entity that will be able to help further increase the amounts of electricity available for Afghans’ houses and businesses. The U.S. Government, through USAID, has invested $28 million in DABS to date and pledged another $20 million over the next year as part of its overall $1.7 billion energy sector program in Afghanistan.

Kabul Electricity Directorate (KED) Commercialization Contract Advisory Support 9/1/2010

Diesel Thermal Power Plants Operations and Maintenance (May 2008-April 2011)
In 2003, USAID committed to providing emergency diesel-generated power to the key southern cities of Kandahar (Kandahar Province), Lashkar Gah (Hilmand Province), and Qalat (Zabul Province). The World Bank provides emergency diesel generators to eight provincial cities, including Aybak (Samangan Province), Musa Qala (Hilmand Province), and Tirin Kot (Uruzgan Province). Providing diesel power to these areas was a short-term way to provide immediate sources of electrical while longer-term and more sustainable lower-cost solutions were being developed. The delay in longer-term solutions and the changing reality over the past four years makes it clear that the temporary diesel power stations must be converted to permanent installations. In addition, the stations have been in use for much longer than initially planned, requiring continued operations and maintenance support. USAID is continuing to provide technical support and is developing the capacity of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (Afghanistan National Electricity Corporation – DABS) to manage these power plants.

Quick Response General Services (March 2009-August 2011)

The Afghanistan Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Program’s quick response task orders address infrastructure project needs that are of short duration, limited scope, and require immediate action. Like regular task orders, quick-response task orders have separate, stand-alone budgets but fall outside the scope of existing task order authorizations. This mechanism was needed to cover the small-scale, unforeseen, recurring technical support activities that need to be addressed quickly in order to keep larger efforts moving forward. Both small-scale and recurring technical support activities can be considered quick response projects. Examples of services include geotechnical services, environmental assessments, technical studies, social assessments, economic studies, and bidder or contractor prequalification.

Announcements

Energy Networks Maintain Steady Power in Kabul

31 May 2010 | Kabul, Afghanistan

During the second week of May, a request came to the USAID-funded 105 megawatt (MW) Tarakhil Power Plant located on the outskirts of Kabul. One...

Tarakhil Power Plant Transferred to Afghan Government

30 June 2010 | Kabul, Afghanistan

On June 27, the U.S. Government transferred control of the 105-megawatt Tarakhil Power Plant to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Tarakhil, a...

Appreciation Ceremony Honors Power Plant Builders

15 May 2010 | Kabul, Afghanistan

USAID and the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) held an appreciation ceremony at the Tarakhil Power Plant during the first week of May to...

Reliable Power for Kandahar Hospital

15 March 2010 | Kandahar, Afghanistan

Until recently, Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar received electricity for only ten hours a day. With 350 beds and international professional staff, Mirwais is the only...

Tarakhil Power Plant Achieves Full Energy Output

31 December 2009 | Kabul, Afghanistan

On December 8, more Afghans in the capital city of Kabul gained access to locally produced power from the USAID-funded Tarakhil Power Plant. Engineers activated...

Kajaki Dam Powerhouse Boosts Power in the South

30 November 2009 | Kajaki, Hilmand Province, Afghanistan

The Kajaki Dam in Hilmand province is now providing more power thanks to the activation of a refurbished turbine generation. The rehabilitation of the Kajaki...

President Karzai Launches Kabul Power Plant

15 August 2009 | Kabul, Afghanistan

On August 5, 2009, President Hamid Karzai opened the first 35 megawatt (MW) block of a 100 MW diesel power plant in Kabul, significantly expanding...

Power from Uzbekistan Reaches Kabul via a New Transmission Line

15 June 2009 | Kabul, Afghanistan

Electricity heats homes, provides light, and powers businesses, contributing to economic growth and higher living standards. Bringing more electricity to Kabul is a key goal...

Construction Begins on Lashkar Gah Electrical Substation

15 April 2009 | Lashkar Gah, Hilmand, Afghanistan

In late March, USAID and the Afghan Ministry of Energy and Water began constructing a new electrical substation in Lashkar Gah, Hilmand Province. The substation...

Drilling Equipment Arrives at the Shibirghan Gas Fields

15 April 2009 | Shibirghan, Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s energy needs significantly outweigh its domestic production. Today, only 10-12% of Afghan citizens have access to electricity, and the country needs an influx of...