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We want to become self-reliant in terms of generating power: Afghan President

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani in a statement has said that the country will be turned into a hub for power transmission which could export 15,000 megawatts of power from Central Asia to South Asia.

According to a report by Tolo News, Ghani was speaking at an inaugural ceremony of a project for transmission of 220 kilowatts of imported power from Wardak to Ghazni in south west of Kabul providence.

Ghani has said at the inauguration ceremony that government’s goal is to drive the country towards self-reliance in terms of power generation and changing Afghanistan into a power transit hub.

“Our first goal is to create a united power network. Second, we want to become self-reliant in terms of generating power and we will export 15,000 megawatts of power from Central Asia to South Asia. Third, we will send power to provinces, which can’t have access to power, through solar, gas, wind power,” Ghani added.

“The first part of the project, which is the renovation of the 220 kilowatts power transmission line from Arghandi to Ghazni province, has cost $95 million USD. The second part, which is worth $47.6 million USD, is funded by the development bank of United States,” he said.

Ghazni and Wardak residents paid 30 AFs per kilowatt hour for electricity before the projects.

The projects included the power transmission line from Ghazni to Wardak and construction of two power substations by an Indian company.

Ghazni and Wardak residents said they have waited four years for the project to be completed and to light up their houses.

The power transmission line is 110 kilometers long. It was delayed due to insecurity in the Sayed Abad district in Wardak province.

Shafiqullah Hotak and Hamidullah Sarwari, speaking on behalf of Ghazni and Wardak residents, said their provinces needed more infrastructure projects.

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