Prolonged Power Outages in Kabul Cause Growing Concern Amid Rising Temperatures

Prolonged power outages in Kabul over the past week have sparked widespread concern among the city’s residents. Citizens report that, alongside rising temperatures, the frequent electricity disruptions have seriously affected daily life, work, and economic activities.

Many Kabul residents are urging the officials of the power company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, now under Taliban administration, to take immediate and effective measures to control the situation. They say the continuation of this problem during the hot season is putting additional pressure on families and disrupting access to essential services.

Electricity experts emphasize that fundamentally solving the power shortage depends on completing several unfinished infrastructure projects. Emanullah Ghalib, the former head of Breshna Sherkat, stated that investment in the power sector, especially to end the outages, requires the completion of key projects such as the 500-kilovolt power line from Pul-e-Khumri to Arghandi in Kabul. This project was initially scheduled to be completed between 2021 and 2022 but remains unfinished, currently being worked on by the private sector.

Meanwhile, officials from Breshna Sherkat acknowledge that electricity shortages are one of the country’s main challenges. Mohammad Sadiq Haqparast, the company’s spokesperson, said contracts for multiple projects have been signed and work is ongoing. Once these projects are completed, the electricity problem will be significantly reduced.

Previously, Breshna Sherkat announced signing contracts for 17 electricity projects and stated that with their operation over the next three years, a large portion of the country’s needs would be met by domestic resources such as water, wind, solar, and coal. However, the ongoing power outages in Kabul and some provinces have led residents to doubt the fulfillment of these promises and call for greater transparency and accountability from the Taliban administration in managing the electricity sector.