A new project for the transmission of 220 kilowatts of imported power from Wardak to Ghazni in the south-west of Kabul province, was inaugurated on Thursday.

President Ashraf Ghani said at the inauguration ceremony that government’s goal is to drive the country towards self-reliance in terms of power generation and changing Afghanistan into a power transit hub.

“Our first goal is to create a united power network. Second, we want to become self-reliant in terms of generating power and we will export 15,000 megawatts of power from Central Asia to South Asia. Third, we will send power to provinces, which can’t have access to power, through solar, gas, wind power,” Ghani said.

The president said the power prices will be decreased in 11 provinces, particularly in Badghis.

“Basic attention will be paid to 11 provinces in the country, including Badghis and Ghazni that buy power at more than two to four times the prices than other parts,” he said.

“The first part of the project, which is the renovation of the 220 kilowatts power transmission line from Arghandi to Ghazni province, has cost $95 million USD. The second part, which is worth $47.6 million USD, is funded by the development bank of United States,” he said.

The project will benefit at least 60,000 families in Ghazni and Maidan Wardak provinces.

Ghazni and Wardak residents paid 30 AFs per kilowatt hour for electricity before the projects.

The projects included the power transmission line from Ghazni to Wardak and construction of two power substations by an Indian company.

Ghazni and Wardak residents said they have waited four years for the project to be completed and to light up their houses.

The power transmission line is 110 kilometers long. It was delayed due to insecurity in the Sayed Abad district in Wardak province.

Shafiqullah Hotak and Hamidullah Sarwari, speaking on behalf of Ghazni and Wardak residents, said their provinces needed more infrastructure projects.