KABUL: Da Afghanistaninfo-icon Bareshna Shirkat (DABS) on Wednesday said it spent two and a half millions US dollars to supply electricity to Kabul residents from diesel-run generators after power supply from Uzbekistan remained disconnected for four weeks due to the sabotage act in northern Baghlan province.
DABS chief Qudratullah Dilawari told reporters here that the power utility had been successful in repairing the damaged pylons in Baghlan last night, restoring 320 megawatts of electricity to the rest of Kabul.
He said the blackout had resulted from the destruction of a pylon and severing of cables at few locations in Baghlan.
He said the power company had been able to provide electricity to half of Kabul from the imported power from Tajikistan and diesel-run generators in Kabul.
He said the company incurred a loss of two and a half million US dollars by running generators during the period.
Local officials in Baghlan had said the Talibaninfo-icon blew up a power pylon along the Pul-i-Khumri-Kunduz highway, but the rebels denied hand in the sabotage act.
DABS chief said: “The enemy has the plan to keep Kabul in complete darkness, but the company used 100 megawatts of generator electricity and 100mg of electricity from Tajikistan.”
Dilawari urged the Taliban to avoid targeting electricity installations that benefitted common people.
He said the Taliban had not only destroyed the pylon in Dand-i-Shahabuddin area, but they also damaged several poles in Aman Tan area. All the damaged pylons had been repaired by DABS technicians, he said.
He said a delegation comprising officials from various departments had prepared a strategy on the protection of power pylons and they would present their plan to the president tomorrow.
Dilwari also said the power utility had incurred loss amounting to $18 million during the past four months due to the depreciation of the afghani against the US currency.
Uzbekistan supplies some 70 percent of Kabul’s electricity. The power cut hit the city’s water pumps, affecting water supplies.
