Contract to improve imported power voltage signed

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A contract to increase the voltage of electricity imported from Turkmenistan was signed between Da Afghnaistan Breshna Shirak and a Chinese company in western Herat province on Saturday.

At the contract signing ceremony, Herat Governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi said a 22-kilometre portion of the 102-km power line from Turkmenistan would be renovated at a cost of $5 million. 

“Currently, 25 megawatts of power is imported from Turkmenistan to Herat province, but with the implementation of the scheme, 100 megawatts of power would reach Herat,” he said.

“The project would be implemented at a total cost of $5.2 million from the budget of the Ministry of Energy and Water over the next nine months through Chinese Shenzhen Energy Group Company Limited,” he said.

Regarding Salma hydropower dam, he said two more turbines would be installed at the dam in the next one month and it would provide 28 megawatts of more electricity to Herat.

Acting head of Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat, Wahid Kamrani, said the renovation of the power lines from Turkmenistan would help inceasse the voltage from 110 volts to 220 volts.

According to Kamrani, currently there are 110 megawatts of power imported from Iran and 25 megawatts from Turkmenistan, but Herat needs 300 megawatts.

myn/ma