The Electrical Divide: Illuminating Afghanistan's Power Challenges

Afghanistan has electricity, but the country has faced power shortages, and there is a possibility that things will get worse as winter approaches. Afghanistan relies on foreign power suppliers, and the Taliban government has not paid its bills. Afghanistan's state power company has appealed to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for $90 million to settle nearly three months of unpaid electricity bills. The country usually pays $20-25 million a month to its neighbouring suppliers, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. Currently, only 38% of Afghanistan's 38 million people have access to electricity.

Afghanistan's electricity imports

Afghanistan imports the majority of its electricity, with domestic sources only covering 18% to 22% of the country's consumption. In 2016, the country imported 4.4 billion kWh of electricity, which covered 80% of its annual consumption.

Afghanistan's primary electricity suppliers are its neighbouring countries: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. In 2021, the country purchased 670 MW of electricity from these countries, costing between $250 and $280 million. The electricity is transmitted through a 442-kilometre high-voltage transmission line from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, which was completed in 2008.

In 2022, Afghanistan signed agreements with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to secure energy supplies for that year. The country was also working towards increasing electricity imports from Uzbekistan to 1000 MW, doubling the previous amount.

However, Afghanistan has faced challenges in paying its electricity bills, particularly after the Taliban took control of the country. As of October 2021, the country had accrued $62 million in unpaid bills to its neighbouring suppliers, with the total amount owed reaching $90 million. This situation has raised concerns about potential power cuts by the supplying countries.

Domestic electricity production

Afghanistan's domestic electricity production comes from a variety of sources, including hydropower, fossil fuels, and solar power. In 2016, the country generated 1,211,000 MWh of electricity, covering 22% of its annual consumption needs. Hydroelectricity accounted for 85% of this domestically produced electricity, with fossil fuels and solar power making up the rest.

The country has the potential to produce much more electricity from renewable sources. It is estimated that Afghanistan could produce over 23,000 MW of hydroelectricity and 222,000 MW of electricity using solar panels. The Afghan government has recognised the value of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power and has begun to develop several solar and wind farms. The country also has the potential to produce 66,000 MW of electricity by installing wind turbines.

Despite these efforts, Afghanistan relies heavily on electricity imports from neighbouring countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. In 2016, the country imported 4,400,000 MWh of electricity to meet 80% of its annual consumption needs. This reliance on foreign power suppliers has led to concerns about power shortages, especially as the Taliban government has struggled to pay the country's electricity bills.

The Taliban has appealed to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for financial assistance to settle unpaid bills, which have reached tens of millions of dollars. While neighbouring countries have continued to supply electricity, there are concerns that they may cut off power if the situation does not improve. This could have a devastating impact on the Afghan people, especially during the winter months.

The Taliban's impact on electricity supply

Afghanistan relies on foreign power suppliers, and the Taliban have not paid the bills. This is among the many problems that people in Afghanistan are dealing with, including acute power shortages. There is a possibility that things will get worse as winter approaches.

Afghanistan relies on its Central Asian neighbours for electricity, importing about 78% of its electricity from them. These suppliers include Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The country's state power company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), has appealed to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for financial aid to settle unpaid electricity bills, totalling about $90 million.

The Taliban's impact on the electricity supply in Afghanistan is significant. Before the Taliban takeover, Afghans endured long winters with chronic power shortages. Residences across Kabul reported nights without running water or electricity in freezing temperatures. Individual gas generators used by businesses contributed to the thick cloud of pollution above the city.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has resulted in a halt in international aid donations and a freeze on overseas assets. As a result, the country has struggled to pay its electricity bills, with collections from domestic electricity customers also slowing down. The Taliban's disruption to bill collection has put Afghanistan's power utility at risk of running out of money. This has created a situation where Central Asian suppliers could cut off power to Afghanistan at any time.

The consequences of power outages would be severe, especially in Kabul, as warned by Daud Noorzai, the former chief executive of DABS. A blackout would bring Afghanistan back to the "Dark Ages" in terms of power and telecommunications, causing a humanitarian disaster. Afghanistan lacks a national power grid, and Kabul depends almost entirely on imported power.

In addition to financial issues, the Taliban have also physically targeted Afghanistan's electricity infrastructure. They have blown up electricity pylons carrying power from Uzbekistan and destroyed fibre optic devices and system equipment in Herat province, affecting power supply to several provinces.

The lack of reliable electricity supplies due to the Taliban's actions has left millions of Afghans without stable electricity, heat, and running water during the winter months. It has also disrupted the country's small but thriving IT sector, with young professionals struggling to meet work deadlines due to frequent power and internet cuts.

Overall, the Taliban's impact on Afghanistan's electricity supply has been detrimental, causing economic instability, infrastructure damage, and hardship for the country's citizens.

Power cuts in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been suffering from power cuts for years, with less than 40% of the population connected to the grid, according to World Bank data. The country's energy infrastructure is vulnerable to attacks from insurgents, and power cuts can be fatal, especially in the country's battered healthcare system.

Chronic Power Shortages

Afghanistan's state power company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), has struggled to provide reliable 24-hour electricity to the country. Afghanistan needs about 1,600 megawatts of power yearly, but its domestic power sources, including hydropower plants, solar panels, and fossil fuels, meet only about 18% to 22% of the country's needs. This has led to long periods of power outages, especially during the winter months.

Vulnerable Infrastructure

Afghanistan's power infrastructure is vulnerable to sabotage by insurgents. In 2016, the Taliban destroyed one electricity transmission tower and damaged two others in the northern province of Baghlan, cutting the supply of electricity from Uzbekistan to Kabul. Such incidents have been frequent, with insurgents cutting cables or damaging transmission towers linking the Kajaki Dam, one of the country's most important hydroelectric power generators, to consumers in the southern provinces.

Impact on Healthcare

The lack of consistent electricity has severe consequences for Afghanistan's healthcare system. Hospitals and clinics have become increasingly reliant on expensive-to-run generators due to worsening power cuts. Health workers struggle to keep a steady power flow to essential medical equipment, such as storage fridges for medicines and incubators for premature babies. The World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have warned that the Afghan healthcare system is "on the brink of collapse" due to power cuts and a lack of aid.

Impact on Daily Life

Power cuts affect almost every aspect of daily life in Afghanistan. During power outages, Afghans turn to burning wood, coal, and even plastic to heat their homes, leading to a 50% increase in air pollution during the winter months in Kabul. Businesses are also severely impacted, with power shortages reducing the output of factories in the capital by up to 60%.

External Dependence

Afghanistan relies heavily on electricity imports from its neighbours, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, to meet its energy demands. This external dependence leaves the country susceptible to wide-scale power shortages, especially if these suppliers cut off the power supply due to non-payment of bills.

In summary, power cuts in Afghanistan have far-reaching consequences, impacting healthcare, daily life, and the economy. The country's reliance on external energy suppliers and vulnerable infrastructure contribute to the frequent power outages, which have become a chronic issue for its population.

Afghanistan's electricity consumption

The Taliban government has struggled to pay its electricity bills, which has led to rising debts and the possibility of power cuts by neighbouring suppliers. In 2021, Afghanistan's electricity import bills were growing by $20-25 million each month, and the situation has likely worsened with the country's economic woes and frozen overseas reserves. The Taliban has appealed to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for financial assistance to settle the unpaid bills, but the request has gone unanswered.

To address the issue of electricity consumption, Afghanistan has explored alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power. The Afghan National Development Strategy recognises these sources as valuable options, and several solar and wind farms have been established, with more in development. Additionally, small dams built by residents in central provinces for water storage and electricity production have been observed. However, the country still heavily relies on its hydroelectric plants, fossil fuels, and imports from neighbouring countries to meet its electricity demands.

The future of Afghanistan's electricity consumption remains uncertain, particularly with the approaching winter season. While neighbouring countries have continued supplying power despite the Taliban's unpaid bills, there is no guarantee that this will persist. The Taliban's relationship with these countries is tense, and the growing debts may eventually lead to a cutoff in power supply. As a result, Afghanistan's electricity consumption and access could deteriorate further, impacting both its industries and its people.

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