ADB to invest $200m in Afghanistan's electrification projects

The investment aims to raise domestic generation fro 20% to 67% by 2030.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth US$200m to increase power connectivity in Afghanistan and develop domestic transmission projects. US$106m will come from ADB’s special funds and US$94m will be co-financed by the Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund.

The supported projects include in particular a new 500 kV transmission line from Surkhan to Dasht-e-Alwan, the upgrade of the Arghandi 500 kV substation and the construction of three additional 500 kV lines bays at Dasht-e-Alwan and Arghandi substations. Besides, the project also entails the construction and the modernisation of 220 kV and 110 kV power lines along with the associated 220/20 kV and 110/20 kV substations.

So far, only 32% of the country's population has access to the grid and the development of the aforementioned projects will be an important step for the domestic power sector. The ADB will support Afghanistan's electrification programme, to raise the electricity access rate from 30% to 83% and to lift the share of domestic generation from 20% to 67% by 2030.

This article was originally published by Enerdata.