TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan on September 20 inked a long-term agreement with Afghanistan to supply electricity, the Tashkent Times reported Monday (September 23).
National Electric Networks of Uzbekistan signed a 10-year contract with Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat.
Uzbekistan has been regularly supplying electricity to Afghanistan since 2002 with one-year contracts.
"The 10-year contract is designed for year-round electricity supply," said Uzbek Deputy Minister of Energy Sherzod Khojayev following a signing ceremony.
Uzbek authorities accommodated their Afghan colleagues and "significantly softened the terms", he said. "Given the difficult situation in Afghanistan, we agreed to have a more flexible supply schedule, so that they don't keep paying fines."
The contract was one of the conditions set forth by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the financing of the construction of a new Surkhan-to-Pul-i-Khumri power line from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, an Uzbek Ministry of Energy official said earlier.
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan are providing $105 million and $45 million, respectively, toward the $150 million power line project.
