Afghanistan May Plunge Into Darkness This Winter
The power supply could end abruptly if central Asian states, especially Tajikistan, suspend electric supplies to Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) for non-payment
There have been chances of Kabul of Afghanistan plunging into darkness with the onset of winter as the Taliban-ruled state has failed to pay the electricity bills to the central Asian electricity suppliers, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Not only this, the Afghan government has not collected the electricity bill payments from the consumers in Kabul.
The electricity domestic production has been affected by this year’s drought.
Half of Afghanistan’s electricity needs depend on electricity imported from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, while Iran also provides additional electricity in the western part of the country.
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After the takeover, Afghanistan has an ample supply of electricity as the Taliban hasn’t destroyed the electricity transmission lines.
Not only this, the commercial consumption of power has dramatically dropped as the industries are stalled and a large portion of it is being used by domestic consumers only.
But it could all end abruptly if central Asian states, especially Tajikistan, suspend power supplies to Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) for non-payment.
The wall Street Journal warned about a humanitarian disaster in case of the power cut.
Daud Noorzai, who resigned as chief executive of the country’s state power authority, said that the consequences could be countrywide but will be severe in Kabul.
“There will be blackout and it would bring Afghanistan back to the Dark Ages when it comes to power and to telecommunications. This would be a really dangerous situation”, the journal quoted Noorzai.
Several United Nations agencies and other bodies have multiple times raised concerns over the deteriorating economic situation in the country.
