DABS collects 31.5 bln afs from consumers, makes all payments

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat (DABS) has collected 31.5 billion afs revenue so far this year and paid off $227 million to the neighbouring countries for electricity purchase, an official said on Sunday.

Dr. Abdul Bari Umar, head of the DABS, told reporters here that the power utility has made significant achievements in the last 10 months in the areas of power grid development, reform, power supply, operational affairs, programs, and imported power from neighboring countries.

He added that the design, construction, and installation of the Noorul Jahad substation have been completed and put into operation, and the number of electricity customers has also increased from 120,000 to 150,000.

He said that the project cost $3.29 million and that the remaining work of the CASA-1000 regional project funded by the World Bank has been resumed and would be completed within two years.

He also said that the construction and rehabilitation projects of the Maidan Wardak Chak, Kunar Managi and Gereshk power generation dams were underway.

In addition, power generation plants have been built across the country and a number of important projects in this regard had also been completed. Omar said that six improvement projects were planned in the capital and provinces this year, which were currently in the equipment preparation stage and their implementation, would significantly reduce electricity and energy losses.

Omar said that six development projects were planned in the capital and provinces this year, which were currently in the equipment preparation stage and their implementation, would significantly reduce electricity waste.

The CEO of the DABS added that the analysis and evaluation of 14 investment projects for the construction of power generation plants with a total capacity of about 505 megawatts had been completed.

He said that over 31.5 billion afs have been received from the sale of electricity during the current year.

According to him, the Breshna Sherkat has paid $227 million to neighboring countries for electricity purchases this year and $28.7 million and 247.8 million Afghanis to domestic power generation companies.

He said that currently, the DABS did not owe any money to neighboring countries or domestic companies for electricity purchases.

According to power utility company, during the current year, 206 electricity-related project agreements worth more than 3.5 billion Afghanis have been signed, of which some projects have been completed and some are ongoing.

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