7,000 families to get electricity

GHAZNI CITY (PAN): About 7,000 families in Ghazni City, the capital of southern Ghazni province, and adjacent areas would gain access to round-the-clock electricity soon, an official said on Tuesday.

The 450 million afghanis project is part of planned schemes to prepare Ghazni City to serve as the Asian Capital of Islamic Civilization.

Ghazni Electricity Department chief Eng. Jan Mohammad told Pajhwok Afghan News he had long discussed the issue of lack of electricity in Ghazni City with the Ministry of Water and Energy.

He said the ministry had now provided his department with resources having the capacity to produce 4.5 megawatts of electricity, which would be distributed to families in Ghazni City and nearby Khashek, Qadam Qala, Roza, Amir Mohammad Khan Qala and Khwaja Baqal areas.

The official said the required machines had already been installed and transmission lines stretched, adding connections would be distributed to families soon.

Currently, 4,300 families in Ghazni City have been extended electricity produced by diesel-run generators and their number would increase to 11,000 with the launch of the new project.

Mohammad said one kilowatt of electricity cost 45 afghanis and if the rate of diesel decreased, it would help reduce the tariff.

He said each family had to pay 3,500 afghanis in return for the extension of a power connection and installation of a meter.

The official said residents evinced a lukewarm interest in getting electricity connections despite in need of the facility.

He asked residents to benefit from the government-offered electricity because private firms producing electricity sold a kilowatt for 65 afghanis.

He said the Water and Energy Ministry had promised extending imported electricity to Ghazni City and work on the project was underway, a project that would help reduce the tariff by 90 percent.

However, he said work on the said mega project had been stopped along the Kabul-Ghazni highway due to bad security conditions.

He said if residents of central Maidan Wardak province extended their cooperation in maintaining security for the project, they would also be extended the imported electricity.

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