Afghanistan inks deal with Turkish electricity firm

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

Afghanistan's public sector power utility Wednesday inked a $4 million deal with a Turkish firm to set up a power station near the capital Kabul.

The agreement was signed at the Kabul headquarters of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) by representatives of the two entities. Istanbul-based AK-AY Elektrik has operations in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, and Nigeria. It is a global first-class Electrical EPC contractor and electromechanical manufacturer that takes a unique approach to delivering electricity transmission and distribution projects.

DABS CEO Qudratullah Delawari said the Turkish firm was chosen for the deal thanks to its sterling reputation in the field. Under the contract, AK-AY will develop a 20 megavolt power substation in the Sarobi district in the eastern Kabul province to help provide electricity to more than 20,000 families. The project is funded by the World Bank.

Under the deal, the Turkish firm would ensure completion of the project in 15 months. According to official figures, less than 30 percent of Afghanistan’s population has access to electricity, and the country relies heavily on imported electricity from the Central Asian States and Iran.

Last month DABS signed a $55.8 million deal with Indian firms Jaguar and Angelic for electricity supply to some 50,000 families in the southeast of the country.

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

Afghanistan's public sector power utility Wednesday inked a $4 million deal with a Turkish firm to set up a power station near the capital Kabul.

Last month DABS signed a $55.8 million deal with Indian firms Jaguar and Angelic for electricity supply to some 50,000 families in the southeast of the country.