Construction Work Begins on 10-Megawatt Solar Power Project in Laghman Province

The Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, inaugurated the commencement of work on a 10-megawatt solar power project in Laghman province today, May 22, 2025.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Akhund stated, "It is a moment of great joy that today we are taking a significant step in clean energy production in Laghman province. This will not only increase the region’s resilience to climate change, but it will also help meet the country’s growing demand for clean and sustainable energy to some extent."

He added that the Islamic Emirate has taken important steps—such as this project—to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector. This project is not only vital for electricity generation, but also for strengthening the national economy, attracting domestic and foreign investment, creating job opportunities, and providing better public services.

Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Akhund further stated that a few weeks ago, contracts were signed for seven major electricity generation projects across the country, with a combined capacity of over 228 megawatts. This marks an unprecedented move in Afghanistan’s energy sector, and the Laghman solar project is part of that initiative.

At the ceremony, he emphasized that the Islamic Emirate’s economic strategy is based on freeing the country from external dependency and achieving self-reliance by utilizing domestic resources. Since electricity is considered the backbone of a country’s economic growth, it remains at the forefront of the Islamic Emirate’s economic policies.

He noted that Afghanistan is highly dependent on imported electricity, which is not only expensive but also leads to a significant outflow of currency. Therefore, projects like this can gradually lead the country toward self-sufficiency in electricity.

In conclusion, the Deputy PM stressed that security is the most important factor for launching and completing economic and investment projects in the country. He assured all investors of the Islamic Emirate’s full support in this regard and encouraged them to invest in various sectors—particularly in electricity. The Islamic Emirate has provided many facilities and guarantees full cooperation. Under the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Office, the Inter-Ministerial Investment Committee is working to streamline investment procedures and facilitate investors.

It is worth mentioning that the 10-megawatt solar power project in Laghman is being implemented with a $6 million investment from the private sector. Once completed, it is expected to partly resolve the electricity shortage for local residents and contribute to the expansion of industrial activity in the region.