KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s Ministry of Energy and Water has signed a $10 billion agreement with a private firm, Azizi Energy, to generate, transmit, and distribute 10,000 megawatts of electricity across Afghanistan.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed Saturday, August 2, in Kabul, according to a statement from the office of the Taliban deputy prime minister for economic affairs.
According to the Taliban, the project aims to use a mix of energy sources — including gas, coal, hydro, wind, and solar — across various regions. Of the planned power output, 4,000 megawatts will go to public use, while the remaining 6,000 megawatts will supply industrial needs.
Azizi Energy CEO Mirwais Azizi, cited in the statement, said work on the project would begin August 3, with completion expected in seven to ten years.
The Taliban claim the project will lead to energy self-sufficiency and allow Afghanistan to export electricity to neighboring countries. The Taliban also say it could result in the creation of thousands of factories and millions of jobs.
Afghanistan continues to face widespread electricity shortages. According to the Taliban-run Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, only 40% of the population has access to power. The country imports over 70% of its electricity, mainly from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran — a supply often disrupted due to rising domestic demand in those countries.
Mirwais Azizi, who also heads Azizi Group, has pledged billions in investments since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. These include plans to build hospitals and expand energy infrastructure.
However, none of those projects have yet materialized, and it remains uncertain whether this latest power deal will move forward as promised.
