100ah power station in China in Afghanistan

Of the estimated 7.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity consumed in Afghanistan in 2019, 77.4% was from power imports: 35.3% from Uzbekistan, 12.3% from Turkmenistan, 30.7% from Tajikistan, and 21.7% from Iran. The remaining 22.4% is produced by national power stations.

The country's power consumption has been relatively low compared to many other nations. Of the estimated 7.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity consumed in Afghanistan in 2019, 77.4% was from power imports: 35.3% from Uzbekistan, 12.3% from Turkmenistan, 30.7% from Tajikistan, and 21.7% from Iran.

National installed capacity. On the other hand, Afghanistan possesses huge renewable energy potential. According to MEW, the total electricity generation potential of these resources is 318 GW. Solar power with 222 GW, wind power with 66 GW, and hydropower with 23 GW, respectively, constitute the leading parts [2,15].

Afghanistan should explore opportunities for regional cooperation in power transmission. Collaborating with neighboring countries to establish cross-border transmission interconnections, such as the CASA-1000 project to facilitate the import and export of electricity, would ensure a more reliable and diverse energy supply.

Although 1,176,030 households were connected to the power grid in 2015, which was enhanced by 11% in the last few years, and the transmission lines increased from 2261 km to 6907 km, Afghanistan's power generation is not used at its total capacity . On the other hand, the capacity of NEPS-to-SEPS was 150 MW in 2012 and is currently 300 MW .

The development of the entire power system in Afghanistan depends on a robust transmission network. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and providing clear policies and administrative procedures are essential to attract investments and develop transmission projects.