Uzbekistan Pledges $243 Million for Afghan Energy Development

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have signed four agreements in the energy sector, according to the press service of the Afghan Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

The contracts were signed between Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), Afghanistan’s national energy company, and Uzenergosotish JSC, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

The projects include:

• Construction of the 500 kV Surkhan - Dasht-i-Alwan transmission line with a capacity of 1,000 MW;

• Expansion of the Argandi substation with a capacity of 800 MW;

• Construction of the 220 kV Kabul - Sheikh-Masri transmission line with a capacity of 800 MW;

• Construction of the Sheikh-Mesri substation in Nangarhar with a capacity of 126 MW.

Uzbekistan will invest nearly $243 million to implement these projects, which are expected to be completed within 18 months. Upon completion, Afghanistan will be able to import between 800 and 1,000 MW of electricity from Uzbekistan.