Power Upgrade Project Completed in Balkh, New 20kV Network Launched

Officials at Da Afghanistan Breshna Company (DABS) say that the project to convert a 6-kilovolt power network to 20 kilovolts and to rehabilitate worn-out transformers in Balkh province has been completed.

At the same time, another project to convert a separate 6-kilovolt network to 20 kilovolts has also been launched in the province.

According to officials, the implementation of these projects will lead to energy savings, prevent power loss, reduce instability, and provide reliable, high-quality electricity to citizens.

Safiullah Ahmadzai, Chief Operations Officer of Da Afghanistan Breshna Company, said: “Overall, the projects undertaken here have been completed, with a total value of about 523 million Afghanis. Our effort is to improve services and provide reliable and sustainable electricity to the people.”

According to the company’s data, currently nearly 40 percent of the country’s population has access to electricity; however, local officials in Balkh emphasize the need to seriously address electricity-related problems faced by industrialists, investors, and residents of the province.

Mohammad Yousuf Jamalzai, head of Breshna in Balkh, said: “We will not allow the people and industrialists of Balkh to travel to Kabul to resolve their issues or for their multi-million-dollar investments to face disappointment. We are working to resolve all these problems.”

Imamuddin Sanai-Zada, head of the Balkh Chamber of Industry and Mines, added: “Industrialists are ready to install a 220-kilovolt substation in the province using their own budget.”

Meanwhile, officials also announced the launch of major electricity generation projects in the country, saying efforts are ongoing to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imported electricity.

They also assured that electricity will be distributed across the country at a fair and uniform tariff.

Abdul Haq Hamkar, Chief Executive Officer of Breshna, said: “There have been some complaints regarding tariffs, and work is underway to address them. We are trying to create a unified tariff system for everyone. I also assure you that Breshna does not operate for profit, and the revenue it generates is reinvested in the electricity sector.”

This comes as residents of Balkh have long complained about high electricity costs and have repeatedly called for a standardized tariff across the country.