Editing Economy of Afghanistan (section)

==Energy in Afghanistan==
{{Main|Energy in Afghanistan}}
[[File:Section of Kandahar at night in 2011.jpg|thumb|[[Aerial photography]] of [[Kandahar]] at night in 2011. Its electricity is provided mainly by two sources, the [[Kajaki Dam|Kajaki]] [[power station]] in neighboring [[Helmand Province]] and [[solar farms]] on the outskirts of the city.<ref>{{YouTube|q9PHOs9_sv0|Kandahar residents benefit from 24-hour electricity}} (Ariana News, June 9, 2023)</ref>]]
Energy in Afghanistan is provided by [[hydropower]] followed by [[fossil fuel]] and [[solar power]].<ref name="CIAWFAF"/> The nation currently generates over 600 megawatts ([[Watt#Megawatt|MW]]) of electricity from its several [[List of power stations in Afghanistan|hydroelectric plants]] as well as using fossil fuel and [[solar panel]]s.<ref name="CIAWFAF">{{cite web |title=Afghanistan |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/afghanistan/ |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=2020-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ariananews.af/bayat-power-set-to-launch-phase-two-of-its-gas-to-electricity-power-generating-project/ |title=Bayat Power set to launch phase two of its gas to electricity power generating project |work=Ariana News |date=November 12, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-25}}</ref> Over 670 MW more is imported from neighboring Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Afghanistan Annually Pays $280M for Imported Power |url=https://tolonews.com/business/afghanistan-annually-pays-280m-imported-power |date=September 1, 2020 |work=TOLOnews |access-date=2020-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ariananews.af/turkmenistan-delegation-meets-with-dabs-to-discuss-issues-around-electricity/ |title=Turkmenistan delegation meets with DABS to discuss issues around electricity |work=Ariana News |date=May 10, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-14}}</ref> Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) is the national electricity provider.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-184356 |title=DABS Says It Collected 37 Billion Afs in Past Year |work=TOLOnews |date=25 July 2023 |access-date=2023-07-29}}</ref>

Price of electricity is 2.5 afghanis per kw in Kabul Province, 4 afghanis in Herat Province, and around 6 afghanis in Balkh Province.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/01/16/balkh-residents-complain-about-high-electricity-tariffs/ |title=Balkh residents complain about high electricity tariffs |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=2023-01-16}}</ref> The government wants to use the nation's [[coal]] reserves to produce extra electricity.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-181408 |title=China Interested in Investment in Coal-Fired Power: DABS |work=TOLOnews |date=31 December 2022 |access-date=2023-01-16}}</ref> The [[CASA-1000]] project will also add 300 MW of electricity to the national grid.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ariananews.af/dabs-says-agreement-reached-with-world-bank-to-finish-casa-1000-project/ |title=DABS says agreement reached with World Bank to finish CASA-1000 project |work=Ariana News |date=July 26, 2023 |access-date=2023-07-29}}</ref>

Due to large influx of [[expats]] from neighboring [[Afghans in Pakistan|Pakistan]] and [[Afghans in Iran|Iran]], the nation may require as much as 7,000 MW of electricity in the coming years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Naghlo Dam Turbines Up And Running |url=https://www.tolonews.com/business/naghlo-dam-turbines-and-running |work=TOLOnews |date=12 April 2018 |access-date=2019-04-21}}</ref> The Afghan National Development Strategy has identified [[renewable energy]] alternatives, such as [[wind power|wind]] and [[solar energy]], as a high value power source to develop.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/11/26/adb-provide-4476m-construction-solar-power-plant |title=ADB to provide $44.76m for construction of solar power plant |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=November 26, 2017 |access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/37969-fifty-two-investors-interested-in-afghanistans-2000-mw-solar-energy-plan |title=Fifty-two investors interested in Afghanistan's 2,000 MW solar energy plan |publisher=[[1TV (Afghan TV channel)]] |date=April 16, 2019 |access-date=2019-04-18 |archive-date=2019-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417205405/http://www.1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/37969-fifty-two-investors-interested-in-afghanistans-2000-mw-solar-energy-plan|url-status=dead}}</ref> A number of major solar and [[wind farm]]s already exist in the country,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/05/22/first-ever-kabul-solar-energy-plant-goes-functional |title=First-ever Kabul solar energy plant goes functional |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=May 22, 2018 |access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/09/17/first-ever-solar-wind-power-plant-goes-functional-herat |title=First-ever solar-wind power plant goes functional in Herat |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=September 17, 2017 |access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tolonews.com/business/eastern-provinces-get-solar-energy-boost |title=Eastern Provinces To Get Solar Energy Boost |work=TOLOnews |date=April 14, 2018 |access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref> with more under development.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ariananews.af/afghanistan-signs-memo-of-cooperation-with-turkish-firm-to-generate-power-locally/ |title=Afghanistan signs memo of cooperation with Turkish firm to generate power locally |work=Ariana News |date=May 9, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/05/07/turkish-company-ready-to-invest-in-200mw-wind-power-project/ |title=Turkish company ready to invest in 200MW wind power project |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=May 7, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-14}}</ref>