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Afghanistan Energy Information Center
The Afghanistan Energy Information Center (“AEIC”
is a component of the Afghanistan Energy Assistance Program
(“AEAP”), which is funded by the United States Agency for
International Development (“USAID”).
Afghanistan Energy Assistance Program
The AEAP was developed as an emergency response in 2002 to
address the critical shortage of electric power resources following decades
of war and unrest in Afghanistan. It is part of a cooperative
international effort to improve the existing physical infrastructure in
Afghanistan including roads, water, and power. USAID’s overall
program for the power sector in Afghanistan has been closely coordinated
with the Government of Afghanistan (“GoA”) and with other international
Donors active in the Afghanistan power sector. These include: the
World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufban, the
Government of Japan, and the Government of India. The AEAP
consists of physical construction, supply of parts and fuel, and technical
assistance such as this Energy Information Center.
Information about the Power Sector in Afghanistan
Reliable information about the power sector in Afghanistan
has been extremely difficult to get. The latest comprehensive
quantitative depiction was done in 2004 (Power Sector Master Plan).
This was a static report with no ability to manipulate and inquire.
Since then, additional gained information about the power sector has been
sketchy, anecdotal, piecemeal, and conflicting. As a result,
planning and evaluating investments has been difficult, and communication
with stakeholders was, at times, vexatious.
Afghanistan Energy Information Center
The mission of the Energy Information Center is collect,
analyze, and share information about energy in Afghanistan that is unbiased,
accurate, and timely. The scope of coverage includes information about
electricity, oil & gas, coal, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Energy information needs to relate with immediacy to residential consumers,
and industrial and commercial users, and to producers and suppliers of
energy products.
The EIC supports energy policy and planning, through these
functional goals:
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Collect and maintain a library of
technical drawings and information about power plants
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Collect and maintain a library of AEAI
professional reports
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Forecast future energy needs and keep
historical energy data, including studying regionally-focused energy security
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Be a reference source for the information
about power plants and imports
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Promote energy efficiency, track energy
technologies and support renewable energy
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Provide market support to existing, new
and emerging renewable technologies
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Support public understanding regarding
energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment
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Transfer international best practices to
local experts and to GoA
The EIC exists on behalf of USAID and operates as per USAID’s
strategic vision. The EIC is also responsible to counterparties at
various levels in MEW and DABM, according to a brief statement of principles
with specific goals, which is agreed upon with GoA. Within
the parameters set by USAID, EIC has a policy of open sharing with
international donors and their consultants who are active in the energy
sector in Afghanistan. The EIC is headed by an Afghan information services
professional supported by international technical assistance consultants.
Web Page
An important function of the AEIC is this web page.
The mission of the web page is 1) to distribute detailed engineering drawing
to DABM, MEW, and Donors working on rehabilitation projects, and 2) for the
lay person it is to provide an overview of the energy situation in
Afghanistan: resources, plans, issues, maps, and programs, 3) as a feedback
tool to determine what energy information is a priority to capture and
report for donors, GoA officials, local and international energy
professionals active in Afghanistan, and Afghan citizens.
For Questions and For More Information
The AEIC wants to receive requests for energy information,
ideas for collaboration, suggestions for improvements, and any other
feedback from interested parties. Please see the contact us tab on the
Home section of the web site.
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