Afghanistan invites Indian companies to invest in renewable energy

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan has tremendous potential to produce energy from different clean sources and its doors are open for international investors to explore opportunities in this space, the country's Minister of Energy and Water Ali Ahmad "Osmani" said.

Osmani, currently on a visit to India, is accompanied by a business delegation from Afghanistan which is looking forward for "business match-making with Indian investors in the area of renewables".

The Minister was speaking at the India-Afghanistan Renewable Energy Summit organised by FICCI in collaboration with the Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water and Afghanistan Renewable Energy Union (AREU), the Indian Embassy in Kabul and USAID, Afghanistan.

Engineer Nasir Ahmad Durrani, Minister of Rural and Rehabilitation and Development, Afghanistan, said that off grid energy was feasible and cost effective and "there were opportunities for Indian companies to establish their capabilities in Afghanistan".

"Energy security is a necessity for regional stability and to ensure economic and social growth of an economy. With industrialisation and development, environment was under pressure, hence there is a need to utilise renewables to produce energy which will eventually fuel the industry," Osmani said.

Emphasising the importance of India-Afghanistan relationship, Osmani said that he wishes the name of Salma Dam is rechristened to 'Afghan-India Friendship Dam' to mark the special relationship between the two nations.

Abdul Razique Samadi, CEO, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), said Afghanistan aims to take up the level of electrification to 65 per cent from the present 33 per cent in the next five years.

"This can be achieved only when Afghanistan, instead of importing its energy requirements from neighbouring countries, is able to bring technology for energy generation to the country. In this endeavour, Afghanistan looks to India for its continued support," he added.