Taliban officials on Tuesday inaugurated a 22.75-megawatt solar power facility at Naghlu, east of Kabul, as Afghanistan continues to face chronic electricity shortages, particularly during the winter months.
The project worth $18 millioin, according to Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban deputy chief minister.
Hanafi said at the opening ceremony in Kabul that Afghanistan currently needs more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity for households and over 10,000 megawatts for the industrial sector.
Hanafi said Afghanistan previously produced about 200 megawatts of electricity domestically, but that more than 1,200 megawatts of power generation capacity has been targeted for investment in the past year under Taliban rule. He urged citizens to conserve electricity given limited supply.
Abdul Bari Omar, head of the Taliban-run power utility Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, said around 400 local engineers and a large number of Afghan workers were involved in the project.
Ahmad Jan Bilal, head of state-owned companies under Taliban management, said several large infrastructure projects had been launched or completed across the country this year.
Meanwhile, Noor-ul-Haq Anwar, head of the Taliban’s administrative affairs office, said the group remained committed to fulfilling its pledges and prioritising public needs.
The solar project was implemented by Turkey’s 77 Construction Company in partnership with a local firm.
Afghanistan relies heavily on imported electricity from neighbouring countries and has long struggled with power shortages. Residents across the country complain of limited electricity supply, with many saying they receive only six to eight hours of power a day.
The shortages have compounded hardship for households already grappling with poverty, as many families depend on electricity for heating during cold weather.
