RASC News Agency: The power distribution company managed by the Taliban, known as Breshna, recently announced the signing of an agreement to expedite the progress of the Nour al-Jihad electricity project in Herat province with the government of Turkmenistan. As outlined in a press release from the Taliban-controlled power company on Tuesday, December 12th, this agreement was finalized on the last day of a joint meeting between Breshna’s leadership and the public official overseeing global projects in Turkmenistan. The primary goal of the agreement is to accelerate the Nour al-Jihad project in Herat while addressing technical considerations between the two parties.
The Taliban group, in their press release, indicated that the five-day meeting involved discussions on the provision of necessary equipment, expediting the work, addressing requests, and considering technical aspects. It is crucial to note that Afghanistan, as a nation, heavily relies on electricity imports from neighboring countries, particularly Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Iran. Periodically, imported electricity encounters shortages, posing challenges for the population. Moreover, according to statistics from the Taliban-controlled Breshna power company, Afghanistan’s demand for electricity is seven thousand megawatts, while it produces a mere 200 megawatts.
Reports state that Afghanistan’s electricity generation covers only 19% of the country’s needs, with the majority sourced from imports. Reports suggest that the mission of the Breshna power company under Taliban control aims to ensure a secure and affordable electricity supply for public welfare and national economic development. However, ongoing electricity shortages, the company’s indebtedness, and its struggles to collect electricity fees indicate a failure in fulfilling its mission.
Simultaneously, public discontent with the company’s electricity provision is on the rise, making it increasingly challenging for the company to collect fees, especially from high-ranking members of the Taliban group.
