Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) announced that Akhmadov (Muhammadaminov), First Deputy Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, has revealed plans to draft a “comprehensive 15-year plan” to develop and upgrade Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure.
Kabul 24: These remarks were made during an important meeting in Tashkent, attended by an Afghan delegation led by Abdul Haq Hamkar, the head of DABS. The meeting highlights Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to long-term cooperation with Afghanistan in the energy sector.
During the meeting held in Tashkent, in addition to reviewing the 15-year plan, one of the main axes of discussion was assessing the “progress of the vital Surkhan–Puli Khumri 500 kV power transmission project.” This strategic project will play a significant role in improving electricity supply and reducing Afghanistan’s reliance on foreign energy sources.
Abdul Haq Hamkar, head of DABS, emphasizing the importance of long-term planning, requested the formulation of a “National Energy Roadmap” for Afghanistan.
He proposed that this roadmap be designed based on thorough and comprehensive feasibility studies across various power generation sectors, taking into account Afghanistan’s domestic capacities.
This initiative could pave a clearer path for investment and sustainable development in Afghanistan’s energy sector.
The First Deputy Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan also stressed the broad scope of cooperation between the two nations. According to the DABS press release, he stated that bilateral interactions in the energy sector would not be limited to electricity exports alone.
Uzbekistan is prepared to initiate joint cooperation with Afghanistan in various areas, including power generation, the expansion of transmission and distribution networks, and the enhancement of technical and engineering capacities for Afghan specialists.
These agreements come as Afghanistan remains heavily dependent on electricity imports, particularly from Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan.
This dependence, coupled with frequent power outages and shortages across different seasons, has posed severe challenges for the citizens and industries of the country.
The implementation of this comprehensive 15-year plan and the development of domestic infrastructure could serve as an effective step toward reducing this reliance and achieving a sustainable improvement in Afghanistan’s energy situation.
