Regional Power Transmission Interconnection Project (Afghanistan Component)

Summary

The project's scope will cover the construction of a 220 kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line that will link the hydropower stations located on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan to the border town of Sherkan Bandar; then to Kunduz, Baglan, and Pul-e-Khumri in Afghanistan. This line will be ultimately linked to Afghanistan's major electricity demand center, Kabul, through the Afghan 220 kV corridor currently under construction, linking Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul.

Expected Outcome

The project will enhance transmission interconnectivity in the power sector between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It will increase power export and income generation capacity of Tajikistan, and restore power supply and reduce costs for consumers in Afghanistan. The project will interconnect the power grids in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The project is in line with the governments' strategies and policies. In Afghanistan, the policy is to provide reliable power supply to all Afghans. In Tajikistan, the policy is to maximize the use of its hydropower assets.

Expected Outputs

The project consists of two parts: A. Transmission lines

• Construction of a new 220-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit river crossing at the town of Sherkan Bandar over the Pianj River to the territory of Tajikistan;
• construction of approximately 157 kilometers of new double-circuit 220 kV transmission line from the Sherkan Bandar river border crossing to the Pul-e-Khumri substation, via the substations at Kunduz and Baglan; and
• de-mining of the route for transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Sherkan Bandar.

B. Substations

• Construction of new 220 kV switchyards at the Kunduz and Baglan substations, and supply and installation of high accuracy export/import metering equipment at the new 220 kV switchgear of the Kunduz substation; and
• connection of the new 220kV transmission line at the 220 kV Pul-e-Khumri substation.