Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in the energy sector is reaching a new strategic stage. In the near future, the volume of electricity supplied by Uzbekistan to Afghanistan will increase several times.
These plans will be implemented after the construction of the "Surkhan - Pul-e Khumri" high-voltage power transmission line is completed. This was announced at a press conference on October 28 by Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov.
The minister especially emphasized the stability of bilateral relations in the energy sector. "Our cooperation with Afghanistan is developing very actively.
In the last two months, I have been there three times. Serious steps are also being taken in Afghanistan itself to develop the economy; it is impossible to do this without energy resources and electricity," said Mirzamakhmudov.
He also noted that the business environment is positive and stable. Special attention was also drawn to the fact that the Afghan side is paying serious attention to financial discipline.
According to the Energy Minister, the current Afghan government has fully paid off debts left by the previous administration, and all payments for currently supplied electricity are being made on time. The most important element in expanding cooperation is the construction of the new 500 kV "Surkhan - Pul-e Khumri" power transmission line.
"On the instruction of our President, we are currently working on expanding cooperation. The contract was signed in September and construction work has begun," said the minister.
This project is planned to be implemented jointly by both sides within 18 months, that is, by April 1, 2027, and will make it possible to significantly increase export volumes. This project is part of a broader package of agreements signed on August 17, with a total value of 250 million US dollars.
In addition to the main 200.6-kilometer power line, the project includes the expansion of "Khoja-Alvon" and "Argonda" substations, as well as the construction of new power lines and substations in Kabul and Nangarhar provinces. Economic relations between the two countries are showing stable growth.
In the first nine months of this year, mutual trade volume increased by 1.5 times, reaching 1.15 billion US dollars. This figure was 762.1 million dollars for the same period last year.
Afghanistan has strengthened its position as Uzbekistan’s fourth largest export market, accounting for 3.8 percent of total exports (excluding gold). In the same period, Uzbekistan’s electricity exports to Afghanistan amounted to 114.8 million US dollars, 1.5 times more than last year.
Uzbekistan has been regularly supplying electricity to Afghanistan since 2002. The supply agreement until 2025 was extended in December last year.
Afghanistan imports 80 percent of the electricity it consumes, and Uzbekistan, along with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, is one of the main suppliers.
