Molly Ayala
Afghanistan has made significant strides in improving access to electricity for its citizens in recent years, yet challenges remain. Despite substantial investments in the country's power infrastructure, deficiencies persist, particularly in rural areas. Afghanistan's power system is complex, relying on a mix of imported power, hydropower, and renewable sources such as solar and wind energy. While access to electricity in the country reached a high of 97.7% in 2016, it has since declined, with only one in three Afghans having reliable access as of 2012. The capital city of Kabul has seen the most progress, with around 70% of households connected to electricity as of 2020. However, residents of Kabul continue to experience power blackouts of up to 15 hours due to supply-demand gaps and technical limitations. Afghanistan's electricity supply is heavily dependent on imports from neighboring countries, and efforts to expand domestic production through renewable sources and dam construction are ongoing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Afghans with access to electricity | 85.3% (as of 2022) |
| Historical average (2000-2022) | 57.09% |
| Minimum value (2000) | 4.4% |
| Maximum value (2016) | 97.7% |
| World average | 86.75% |
| Electricity sources | Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan |
| Electricity imports | 670 MW |
| Electricity import costs | $250-280 million annually |
| Electricity from Iran | 150 MW |
| Electricity from CASA-1000 project | 300 MW |
| Electricity from hydro plants | 500 MW |
| Electricity from wind power | 100 kW |
| Electricity from geothermal resources | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Afghanistan's electricity imports
Afghanistan currently imports over 670 megawatts (MW) of electricity from its neighbouring countries—Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This costs the country between $250 and $280 million annually. More than half of the country's total electricity supply comes from these imports. The western provinces of Afghanistan have long purchased electricity from eastern Iran, and the country also imports petroleum products and natural gas from its western neighbour. Provinces in northwestern Afghanistan buy electricity from Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan's imports from Uzbekistan are transmitted through a 442-kilometre high-voltage transmission line completed in 2008, providing power to Kabul and five other Afghan provinces. The country also purchases up to 150 MW of electricity from Tajikistan.
While Afghanistan has the potential to produce over 23,000 MW of hydroelectricity, its power stations, mainly hydro plants, face challenges due to water shortages and maintenance issues. The country is also exploring alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power. It has the potential to generate over 66,000 MW of electricity through wind farms and over 222,000 MW from solar panels. The use of solar power is becoming widespread, with solar parks and street lights in many cities and towns, and even in rural areas. Additionally, the country has geothermal resources in the Hindu Kush region, which could provide low-cost electricity.
To enhance its domestic electricity production, Afghanistan has established Bayat Power, which operates a modern natural gas power plant in Jowzjan Province. By 2024, Bayat Power had generated over 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, helping to reduce the country's reliance on imports. The Afghan government is also seeking technical assistance to build more dams for hydroelectric power generation, with Chinese experts showing interest in these projects.
In summary, while Afghanistan imports a significant portion of its electricity from neighbouring countries, it is actively working to develop its domestic energy sources, including hydroelectric, solar, wind, and geothermal power, to reduce its dependence on imports and improve access to electricity for its citizens.
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Solar and wind power
Afghanistan has been working to improve access to electricity for its citizens. Despite these efforts, only one in three Afghans has access to electricity, with the situation in Kabul, the capital, being better than in the rest of the country.
Afghanistan also has the potential to produce over 66,000 MW of electricity by installing and using wind turbines. The first wind farm was completed in Panjshir Province in 2008, with a capacity of 100 kW. Another major wind farm is nearly completed in Herat province. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has helped develop a wind map of Herat province, identifying approximately 158,000 MW of potential wind power.
The integration of solar and wind power plants is essential for the electrification of certain provinces. Studies have shown that these renewable energy projects can improve social and economic conditions and create job opportunities. They can also reduce a community's carbon footprint and foster teamwork and knowledge exchange.
In addition to solar and wind power, Afghanistan has been exploring other renewable energy sources, including hydropower, biomass, biogas, and geothermal energy. The country's mountainous geography makes hydropower an attractive option, with many dams and hydroelectric power stations already in place. However, hydropower alone may not be sufficient to meet the energy demands of rural areas.
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Geothermal energy
According to a 2012 Reuters article, only one in three Afghans has access to electricity, despite years of spending to improve supply. The capital, Kabul, is in a better situation, with around 70% of households connected. However, the country is still heavily reliant on imported power. Afghanistan currently imports over 670 MW of electricity from its neighbours Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, costing the country between $250 and $280 million annually.
Afghanistan has a range of potential energy sources, including hydropower, fossil fuels, solar power, wind power, biomass, and geothermal energy. The country's mountainous geography makes it well-suited for hydropower, which is currently the main source of renewable energy. However, there is also a growing focus on developing other renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
A study by ScienceDirect investigated the feasibility of using geothermal energy for hydrogen production in Afghanistan. The results identified Sari Pul, Balkh, and Herat as the most suitable provinces for geothermal-based hydrogen production, while Zabul, Ghor, and Kandahar were the least suitable. Geothermal energy was found to be technically, economically, and environmentally more favourable for hydrogen production than other renewable sources. Afghanistan's geothermal resources offer significant potential for power generation and can support various hydrogen-consuming industries.
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Hydroelectricity
Afghanistan has the potential to produce over 23,000 MW of hydroelectricity. The country's largest source of energy is hydropower, followed by fossil fuels and solar power. Afghanistan currently generates around 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity from its several hydroelectric plants, with over 720 MW more imported from neighbouring countries. The Afghan government has been seeking technical assistance from neighbouring and regional countries to build more dams.
A number of dams with hydroelectric power stations were built between the 1950s and the mid-1970s, including the Kajaki in the Kajaki District of Helmand Province and the Naghlu in the Sarobi District of Kabul Province. The Kajaki provides up to 151 MW of electricity to both Helmand and Kandahar provinces. The Naghlu Hydropower Plant, located about 85 kilometres east of Kabul city, is the country's largest hydropower plant. In 2018, the plant restarted operations of one of its four turbines after a hiatus of six years, providing electricity to Afghanistan's national grid once again. When all four turbines are fully operational, the station will have the capacity to produce 100 MW of electricity, which could serve 100,000 households.
Other hydropower projects include the Salma dam and the first phase of the Kajaki plant, which were completed in recent years. The Afghan government plans to leverage private sector financing for additional hydropower plants, starting with the expansion of the Kajaki hydropower plant.
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Power infrastructure investments
Afghanistan's infrastructure requirements are estimated at $4 billion over three years, which is more than the government or a single funding agency can provide. The country's power stations, mainly hydro plants, have the potential to produce around 500 MW but are generating less than half of that due to water shortages and maintenance issues. The country currently imports over 670 MW of electricity from its neighbours, costing between $250 and $280 million annually.
The Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund was established in 2010 to enable bilateral, multilateral, and individual contributors to partner with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in financing infrastructure investments. The ADB will provide operational and project management expertise to help the Afghanistan government implement its key infrastructure development plans.
There are several opportunities for investment in the energy sector, including expanding and upgrading power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Afghanistan has untapped reserves of oil, gas, and hydropower that can be developed to meet domestic energy needs and reduce reliance on imports. Regional cooperation initiatives, such as the Central Asia-South Asia power project (CASA-1000), can also bolster the country's energy sector and create opportunities for economic growth.
The country also has the potential to generate electricity through solar and wind power. Solar power is becoming widespread in Afghanistan, with solar parks in several cities and solar-powered street lights in all towns and cities. The first wind farm was completed in Panjshir Province in 2008, and another major wind farm is nearly completed in Herat province.
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Frequently asked questions
No, only one in three Afghans has access to electricity.
Kabul's current demand is 530 MW, but it only receives 260 MW from transmission lines coming from abroad and 80 to 115 MW from domestic hydropower plants.
Afghanistan's electricity mix includes hydropower, solar, and wind.
There are several challenges, including water shortages, maintenance problems, an inadequate transmission network, and financial and project implementation obstacles.
The Afghan government is seeking technical assistance from neighboring countries to build more dams and improve electricity access. International organizations and other governments have also invested in Afghanistan's power infrastructure.
