The country’s power utility company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), said two big solar energy projects will be built Nangarhar province with the help of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The project, which will cost about $300 million USD, will have a power output capacity of 200 megawatts. 

The two solar parks will provide power to Laghman and Nangarhar provinces. 

Head of DABS Amanullah Ghalib said the projects will help boost power capacity in the eastern provinces.

“One of the projects will be implemented in Baba area and another will be built close to a 40 megawatt solar project in the province,” he said. 

Some representatives of the private sector meanwhile welcomed the move by government and said it will boost industry owners’ activities in Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.

“The east zone is quite vital for investors but now they are faced with a lack of electricity,” said Khanjan Alokozay, deputy head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

The Breshna company also said work on Gulbahar substation – in the center of Afghanistan – is about to be completed and that this will also provide power to the eastern provinces.