Uzbek Power Supply Disruption Leaves Kabul With Hours-Long Daily Outages

A technical problem on a 220-kilovolt electricity transmission line importing power from Uzbekistan has caused widespread electricity shortages in Kabul, leaving residents with only a few hours of power each day, Afghan media reported.

According to TOLO News, cited by The Caspian Post, the disruption has significantly affected daily life in the Afghan capital. Residents say electricity is available for just three to five hours within a 24-hour period and is often unstable.

«We’re facing many problems due to power cuts. We’re students living in rented rooms, and we only get electricity for four to five hours a day,» said Abdul Rahman, a Kabul resident. Another resident, Ajmal, said power is available for only short intervals and frequently cuts out.

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), the country’s national power utility, said efforts are under way to restore stable supplies. Spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq Haqparast said thermal electricity from the Tarakhil Power Plant has been activated to partially compensate for the shortfall, despite high fuel costs.

Officials said recent snowfall damaged sections of the transmission line between Pul-e-Khumri and Kabul, reducing power deliveries not only to the capital but also to 12 other provinces.

Analysts say the latest disruption highlights Afghanistan’s dependence on imported electricity and underscores the need for long-term investment in domestic energy production.

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