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 Dam Powerhouse has resulted in the combined generation of 31 megawatts (MW) of power – the most power Kajaki has produced in the past three decades. Thousands of citizens in Kandahar and Hilmand provinces will benefit from the newfound electricity created by the power increase.
The Unit 3 turbine generator started providing power on October 4, despite an increase of insurgent activity in the war-stricken south. Afghan powerhouse workers, machinists, and subcontractors participated in the refurbishment of Unit 3, further building the capacity of Afghans to rebuild their country. “We are now generating more power out of Kajaki than approximately three decades before,” said Head Engineer Rasoul, who has been directly involved with Kajaki for the past 30 years. The increase of power will lead to significant cost savings for electricity consumers, since hydro-generated power is much less expensive to run than diesel.