Afghanistan’s Battery Production Expands with $110M Investment

According to data from the Battery Manufacturing Factories Union, 11 factories are currently operating in the battery production sector in the country.

Officials say that nearly $110 million has been invested in these factories, which together supply about 80 percent of the market demand.

Abdul Nasir Reshtia, an adviser to the Battery Factories Union, said: “Two more factories are expected to begin operations in the near future. Currently, various types of batteries are produced in Afghanistan, including solar, MF, and rechargeable batteries, all of which meet international standards.”

Among these factories, one of the largest battery production plants in Afghanistan produces up to 3,000 batteries per day.

This factory, located in Kabul, employs nearly 200 workers, and production is carried out across three separate lines.

After production, the batteries are carefully inspected at every stage by advanced machines as well as workers to ensure there are no technical defects.

Jamshid Mahmoodi, the factory manager, added: “The total investment in this factory, with the modern technology used, is close to $20 million.”

In the quality control section, several specialized devices are used to test the batteries to ensure they meet required standards.

The presence of workers alongside machines also ensures that the production and inspection processes are carried out with high precision.

Mohammad Shahram, a worker at the factory, said: “We are very happy that there are many job opportunities in our country, and that production is ongoing in this factory, allowing us to earn an income.”

Mangal, another worker, added: “We call on other investors and traders to invest inside the country so that more job opportunities can be created for people.”

However, the main challenges facing battery manufacturers include electricity shortages, lack of raw materials, and the excessive import of batteries, which have significantly affected domestic production.

This comes as Afghanistan continues to import batteries each year from countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates, India, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Korea, Turkey, Iran, Vietnam, and Japan. Meanwhile, in the past solar year, Afghan-made batteries were exported to Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates.