Ministry of Water and Energy Presents Annual Performance Report Highlighting Significant Achievements and Future Plans

During a press conference held at the Government Information and Media Center, officials from the Ministry of Water and Energy presented their annual performance report.

Key highlights include the resumption of construction on the Pashdan Dam in Herat Province, the completion of 37% of the first phase of the Bakhshabad Dam in Farah Province, the completion of the Shah wa Aros Dam in Kabul Province, and progress on the third phase of the Kamal Khan Dam. Additionally, the first section of the second phase of the Kajaki Dam in Helmand Province and the construction of the Tori Dam in Zabul Province have been completed.

Over the past year, the ministry initiated the construction of 140 small water dams, of which 117 projects have been completed. Six reinforcement projects have been implemented along the shores of the Amu River. The ministry has also completed the design of 173 projects and the technical review of 157 small and medium water facilities, with 250 other projects implemented with assistance from partner organizations.

Key measures to institutionalize the water and electricity sector include the development of a five-year development plan for the electricity sector, the drafting of four regulations, the approval of six water management procedures, and the signing of MoUs with partner organizations. Additionally, the ministry has developed investment strategies for water and electricity projects, approved internal affairs policy, and finalized drafts for five water management regulations.

Other significant initiatives over the past year include the collection and economic analysis of statistics for canals and dams of various sizes, analysis of surface and groundwater data, expansion of the national water resources information bank, and the establishment of information systems for water facilities and electricity.

To mitigate water wastage, traditional irrigation systems have been modernized. In the electricity sector, seven licenses were issued, and permits for the utilization of water resources were granted to 1,417 legal entities and individuals. Continuous monitoring of 122 water facilities was conducted, and 275 hydro-meteorological stations across the country were maintained and monitored.

The country’s water geography has been divided into five major river basins and 35 sub-river basins, managed by central and regional authorities. Notable achievements include the initiation of practical work on the Arghandi substation with a 500-kw capacity, the commencement of an 8-megawatt electricity generation project, and the extension of distribution networks in Paktika, Farah, and Uruzgan. Additionally, a 10-megawatt solar power project in Naghlu has been completed, practical work on the 500-kw transmission line from Dasht-e-Alwan to Arghandi has begun, and feasibility studies for solar and wind energy generation projects with a 140-megawatt capacity have been conducted. A secretariat has also been established as a coordination hub to manage TAP project-related affairs.

The ministry’s priorities for the current year include drafting and approving 14 legislative documents on water management, conducting studies and preparing construction plans for 581 development projects valued at over 10 billion AFN in the water management sector, implementing 265 projects, collecting and analyzing surface and groundwater data, assessing climate impacts on rivers and water basins, resolving water disputes, monitoring water facilities, and conducting feasibility studies for six projects with a combined capacity of 280 megawatts.