Kabul industrialists irked by 47 percent cut in electricity supply

KABUL (Pajhwok): Electricity supply to industries in capital Kabul has been reduced by 47 percent recently, irking industrialist as they face multiple problems.

Mohammad Karim Azeemi, executive director of the Kabul Industry and Mining Chamber, told Pajhwok Afghan News 650 industries functioned in capital Kabul in which around 60,000 people worked.

He said in the past, up to 20 hours electricity was provided to the factories in 24 hours but from the past two months only 10 hours electricity was being supplied to the industries in 24 hours.

He said the matter had been discussed with officials of Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat (DABS), but no steps were taken for its solution.

Azeemi said some factories received electricity during day while some were provided electricity during night.

He urged the government to resolve the electricity issue of industries. “If the electricity issue is not resolved, factory owners may terminate their employees because they would not be in position to provide them with salaries.”

Haji Mohammad Aman Poparzai, owner of a raisin processing factory, said previously 200 women worked in his factory but due to the lack of electricity he reduced the number of employees to 100.

“There is more work, we need to process raisin and produce dry apricot. The more we work the more government gets benefit, but due to electricity shortage we are unable to hire more workers.”

DABS Spokesperson HikmatullahMaiwand said locally-produced electricity declined due to drought and there was a surge in the price of imported electricity, therefore industrial parks received reduced electricity compared to the past.

He said 10 hours electricity was supplied to the factories at this stage which was more than the electricity supplied to residential areas and public offices.

He said efforts were on to provide more electricity to the industries when there was increase in the generation of electricity.

According to DABS, currently 150MW electricity is produced in the country and 100MW of this electricity is produced by the private sector.

nh/ma

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