Kiwis to build Afghan solar

New Zealand is to provide $18.6 million to create a solar energy generator in Afghanistan.
The contract for the construction of the project which will be located in the Bamyan province of Afghanistan has been awarded to two New Zealand companies, Sustainable Energy Services International and NetCon Ltd.
New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said New Zealand troops have been providing assistance with reconstruction in the Bamyan province since 2003.
“We are pleased to be able to provide a system that will reliably supply power to about 2500 homes, businesses, and government buildings,” Mr McCully said.
“This project is as much about building a utility and training staff as it is about constructing a reliable energy facility. The system must be sustainable in the long term, so to that end the government will set a tariff that is affordable but also covers the cost of maintenance,” he said.
The 1.05MW solar energy project will be the largest in Afghanistan and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.