Work on thermal power plant underway

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Initial work on a thermal power plant with capacity of producing 200 megawatts of electricity has been launched in northern Jawzjan province, officials said on Tuesday.

A Turkish company has been awarded the contract to complete the $37 million USAID-funded project, which would electrify villages in Sar-i-Pul, Faryab, Balkh, Samangan and Jawzjan.

Syed Mohammad Patman, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News a survey on gas extractions for electricity generation was currently underway. He said each gas well would produce two million cubic meters gas for electricity production.

Eng. Ghulam Saki Saka, the provincial electricity department head, said the power project would benefit residents of Jawzjan and other provinces in the northern zone.

He said two gas-run turbines would be installed, which would generate 200MW of electricity. Currently electricity is imported to northern provinces from Uzbekistan.

Saka said with the completion of the thermal power plant project, residents of Balkh, Jawzjan, Sar-i-Pul and Faryab would be extended electricity. 

Police chief Brig. Gen. Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani said up to 300 police personnel had been assigned to keep security for the project.

Jawzjan shares border with Turkmenistan and has vast resources of natural gas in Khwaja Gogardak, Yatim Taq, Jurqodak areas of Lailia desert and Shiberghan City, the provincial capital

A survey conducted by Russian experts in 1960 put the number of natural gas wells in Jawzjan at 300. Of them, currently 36 are producing natural gas.

nh/ma

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