Powering Afghanistan's Kapisa Province
For most Afghans in Nijrab district, electricity is still something of a luxury. Three decades of war have destroyed what little infrastructure existed here.
The French local civilian support team is doing its bit to address the shortage.
Approximately 10% of people in Kapisa have electricity, but not on a regular basis. They have electricity through generators and electricity is guaranteed only for few hours a day.
The French government has signed a €10 million deal to construct a power line from Uzbekistan to Jalalabad, not far from Kapisa.
Many homes here will reap the benefits of this from next month, while others will have to be patient.
The French and Afghan engineers visited the villages around Nijarab to monitor the status of work on the stations.
Germain Groll from the French Embassy in Afghanistan says the power line will help to reduce the hardship of the Afghan women. “The second advantage is to reduce the consumption of wood. As you might notice there are not so many forests around here. It also helps to reduce inequality because electricity is quite cheap,” he explains.
The French are not only bringing electricity to the area, they’ll also train local residents how to use energy efficiently.
The responsibility for securing Kapisa is likely to be handed over to the Afghans in May. The French are expected to keep around 3 000 troops in the province this year and then begin drawing down next year.
While the Afghans step up to the plate, the French leave behind a legacy thousands should benefit from.