The Ministry of Energy and Water has put two power projects up for bidding, saying that both domestic and international investors are welcome.

One is a solar power project in Paktika and another is a water-powered electricity project in Jawzjan province. The projects are together worth around $35 million.

Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, the acting Minister of Energy and Water, Abdul Latif Mansour, said that they are trying to attract foreign investment in the country.

“Those investors who are interested in investing in these projects can receive technical information from the ministry’s offices and social media pages,” Mansour said.

The officials of the MoEW said that they would give priority to domestic companies.

“The Afghan companies will be given priority because this is the policy of the Islamic Emirate: to support and grow our domestic private sectors,” said Farhad Mahmoodi, an official of the MoEW.

This comes as the former head of Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat said that investment in power production can alleviate challenges that exist due to a shortage of electricity in the country.

“The only solution for the Afghan problem is investment. The small networks which could be active in the provinces are only possible via the private sectors,” said Amanullah Ghalib, former head of DABS.

Earlier, the MoEW said that many countries, including Russia, China, US, UK, Qatar and Turkey have shown an interest in investing in thermal energy in Afghanistan.