Afghanistan looks to produce 2,000MW of power by 2020, 500MW via solar

Afghanistan has set its eyes on producing 2,000 megawatts (MW) of power by the year 2020, with 500 MW produced through solar power plants, according to the country’s energy and water ministry officials.

The country aims to produce 5,000 MW of electricity by 2032, Mujtaba Haidari, the Ministry’s renewable energy head,said. They have already launched practical steps to achieve these goals, Mujtaba said, adding that the project would be implemented in two phases. The first of which is to produce 500 MW of electricity through solar energy.

Afghanistan has a full 300 sunny days. That capacity enables Afghanistan to produce at least 222,000MW of solar energy. But, due to lack of private sector interest in using that energy, Afghanistan is using the minimum amount of that renewable energy.

“If we invest in the sector, not only we would become self-sufficient in that area, but we would also find the exporting capacity to countries surrounding,” Mohmmad Gul Khulmi, vice president for renewable energy union, said in the meeting.

The officials in energy sector argue the private sector to invest in the sector and the government would provide all required facilities.

Afghanistan currently imports a majority of its required electricity from neighboring countries which only serve 45% of resident’s need for power.