Germany builds new power grids worth $13m in Samangan

Πηγή: KP
Feb 1 2015

The Construction work of two new power grids worth $13 million and supported by the government of Germany kicked off in northern Samangan province of Afghanistan.

The two new power grids are being built in the towns of Aybak and Pir Naghchir ties of Samangan which would supply electricity for up to 9,000 households in Aybak and 1,500 households in the town of Pir Naghchir.

Deputy provincial governor Akhtar Mohammad Khairzada said ““Today we witness a very important moment for the development of Samangan. The power grid will supply more than 100,000 people with electricity.”

The German Development Commissioner in Afghanistan, Dr. Martin Schuldes, underlined that “In urban, suburban and rural centres, technically reliable access to a transmission and distribution network is essential for steady economic and social development.”

Once the municipal networks in Aybak and Pir Nagchir are operational, they will be run and maintained by the Samangan business unit of Afghanistan’s power supply company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat’s (DABS), according to a statement by Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

The statement further added upon completion of the project, households in both municipalities will be able to apply for a connection and get access to electricity from DABS.

The cost for the construction of the two grids and network investment will amount to AFN 743 million which is equivalent to $13 million and is financed by the German Government through the KfW Development Bank, the statement added.

The investment is part of Germany’s North Eastern Power System (NEPS) programme to support construction of a modern transmission and distribution infrastructure in the provinces of Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan. The energy sector and with it the improvement of the distribution infrastructure is a priority for Afghan-German Development Cooperation

According to GIZ, for the city of Aybak the construction measures include the installation of a feeder link from the existing substation into the city, the construction of a medium and low-voltage distribution network and installation of 85 pole-mounted transformers and three transformer substations in the municipal borders. To provide electricity
for the town of Pir Naghchir, a 40km long 20kV transmission line will be installed from the sub-station in Kholm to Pir Naghchir, as well as 40 transformers and 400 volt city grid distribution line covering as distance of 27 km.

At the opening ceremony, the deputy provincial governor Akhtar Mohammad Khairzada and Martin Schuldes were joined by the Director of DABS in Samangan, Engineer Mehrabuddin, Dr. Martin Knoll of the KfW Development Bank, Mr. Dirk Drewes from the German engineering firm Fichtner and representatives of the construction company TGEM.