Energy in Afghanistan
Energy in Afghanistan is primarily provided by hydropower.
Two decades of warfare have left Afghanistan’s power grid badly damaged. As of June 2004, less than 10% of the population had access to electricity. In 2002, electricity generation was 0.745 billion kWh, of which 25.5% came from fossil fuel, 74.5% from hydropower, and none from other sources. Imports of electricity totaled 0.150 kWh in 2002. In the same year, consumption of electricity totaled 0.843 billion kWh. Total electrical generating capacity in 2002 stood at 0.385 million kW. By June 2011, only 36% of the population has access to electricity.
Hydroelectricity
Three hydroelectric plants were opened between 1965 and 1970, at Jalālābād, Naghlu, and Mahipar, near Kabul; another, at Kajaki, in the upper Helmand River Valley, was opened in the mid-1970s. In addition to the Naghlu, Mahi Par, and Kajaki plants, other hydroelectric facilities that were operational as of 2002 included plants at Sarobi, west of Kabul; Pol-e Khomri; Darunta, in Nangarhar Province; Dahla, in Qandahār Province (restored to operation in 2001); and Mazāre Sharif. Also in operation was the Breshna-Kot Dam in Nangarhar province, which had a generating capacity of 11.5 MW. Construction of two more power stations, with a combined capacity of 600 kW, was planned in Charikar City.
A third generating turbine is being added to the Kajaki Dam in Helmand Province near Qandahār, with the assistance of the Chinese Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery Company. This will add 16.5 MW to its generating capacity when completed.
The drought of 1998–2001 negatively affected Afghanistan’s hydroelectric power production, which resulted in blackouts in Kabul and other cities.
Natural gas and oil
Natural gas was Afghanistan’s only economically significant export in 1995, going mainly to Uzbekistan via pipeline de marde. Natural gas reserves were once estimated at 140 billion cubic metres. Production started in 1967 with 342 million cu m but had risen to 2.6 billion cubic metres by 1995. In 1991, a new gas field was discovered in Chekhcha, Jowzjan Province. Natural gas was also produced at Sheberghān and Sar-e Pol. As of 2002, other operational gas fields were located at Djarquduk, Khowaja Gogerdak, and Yatimtaq, all in Jowzjan Province. In 2002, natural gas production was 1.77 billion cubic feet.
In August 1996, a multinational consortium agreed to construct a 1,430 km pipeline through Afghanistan to carry natural gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan, at a cost of about $2 billion. However US air strikes led to cancellation of the project in 1998, and financing of such a project has remained an issue because of high political risk and security concerns. As of 2002 the leaders of the three countries had signed an agreement to build the pipeline, but as of 2006, construction had not begun.
A very small amount of crude oil is produced at the Angot field in the northern Sar-e Pol Province. Another small oilfield at Zomrad Sai near Sheberghān was reportedly undergoing repairs in mid-2001. Petroleum products such as diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel are imported, mainly from Pakistan and Turkmenistan. A small storage and distribution facility exists in Jalālābād on the highway between Kabul and Peshāwar, Pakistan.
Afghanistan is reported to have oil reserves totalling 95 million barrels.
Imported Electricity
Uzbekistan
Discussions on electricity supplies began back in 2006, the Construction of a 442-kilometre (275 mi) high voltage transmission line from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan was completed by October 2008. It will run from Kabul through five Afghan provinces towards the country's border with Uzbekistan, and will then connect to the Uzbek electricity transmission system. It is expected the project will cost $198 million [USD], and will have a capacity of 220 kW; the transmission lines were jointly funded by India and the Asian Development Bank.[1] As a result by early April 2009, all of Kabul all of the capital city of kabul had 24-hour electricity, the increase in power has already made a difference to many ordinary Afghans. By 2011, Afghanistan imported nearly 300 Megawatts of electricity from Uzbekistan.[2]
Coal
Afghanistan is reported to have coal reserves totalling 100-400 million tons. these minies line located from badakhan up to heart province.Afghanistan have more than 11 coal reserves such as
Bamyan province
- Ashposhta and Sarasia coal reservers 150 milion ton
- Sarjungel and Sar Asia coal reservers
Baghlan province
- Karkar coal reserves
- Dodkash coal reserves
Samangan province
- Dara e sof-Shabashak the first quality coal reserves 74 milion ton
- Darae e sof- Gola badri -keshine mabayen vallag and balkhab distract coal reserves
Badakhshan
- Kotal khaki - Barf distract coal reserves
parvan province
- Farakort Gorband provine and Gawoparan Surkhparsa distract coal reserves
Hreat province
- Karukh coal reserves 15 milon ton. the 10 milion ton for industries
Dikundi province
- Lagharjoe - kacharan Distract coal reserves
Uruzgan province
- Kandalan valag Mudakhil Distract coal reserves
Solar
In 1991, a new 72-collector solar installation was completed in Kabul at a cost of $364 million. The installation heated 40,000 liters of water to an average temperature of 60°C around the clock.
