Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL3180
2007-09-20 07:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

AF: Update: 100 MW Power Plant Project for Kabul

Tags:  ENRG EFIN EPET ETRD KPWR EAID PGOV AF 
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VZCZCXRO2881
PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #3180 2630715
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200715Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0352
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4214
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2982
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1614
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0274
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1394
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 7126
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0059
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 2110
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0081
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3755
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1953
UNCLAS KABUL 003180 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A (A/S BOUCHER, GASTRIGHT,DEUTSCH)
DEPT PASS AID/ANE, OPIC
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FORZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICENT
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
MANILA PLEASE PASS ADB/USED
PARIS FOR OECD/ENERGY ATTACHE
OSD FOR SHIVERS, SHINN
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
TOKYO ALSO FOR AID COUNSELOR AANENSON

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: ENRG EFIN EPET ETRD KPWR EAID PGOV AF
SUBJECT: AF: Update: 100 MW Power Plant Project for Kabul

Sensitive but Unclassified

Reftel: Kabul 936 and previous

UNCLAS KABUL 003180

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A (A/S BOUCHER, GASTRIGHT,DEUTSCH)
DEPT PASS AID/ANE, OPIC
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FORZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICENT
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
MANILA PLEASE PASS ADB/USED
PARIS FOR OECD/ENERGY ATTACHE
OSD FOR SHIVERS, SHINN
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
TOKYO ALSO FOR AID COUNSELOR AANENSON

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: ENRG EFIN EPET ETRD KPWR EAID PGOV AF
SUBJECT: AF: Update: 100 MW Power Plant Project for Kabul

Sensitive but Unclassified

Reftel: Kabul 936 and previous


1. (SBU) On August 26, 2007 the Afghan Ministry of Energy and Water
(MEW) sent a letter to USAID officially allocating a suitable site
for the 100 MW Power Plant for Kabul. The site, designated landsite
number #1130, (previously internally referenced as the "8/20" site
as it was identified on August 20) is larger than previously
proposed sites and close to existing power lines. Official title to
the land is "in the works."


2. (SBU) As explained to USAID officials, a Ministry of Urban
Development (MUD) committee must meet to approve the allocation of
land to the project, determine that the allocation is for the good
of the nation, and thereby nullify any physical claims on the land.
Should landowners present themselves, the IRoA is then responsible
for compensating them. The minutes of the relevant MUD meeting have
been published in Dari and shown to EmbOffs. An English translation
is pending. The land issue now appears to be closed.


3. (SBU) The MEW has appointed a project liaison officer within the
Ministry to work with contractor LBG/BVI. The ministry also
encouraged the contractor to begin moving equipment to the site.
With this move, official police protection can be arranged for the
project site. Based on the Ministry's suggestions, LBG/BVI has
begun site preparation work. The government began site survey work
September 18. The survey is expected to be completed by COB
September 19. Once this work is complete, the contractor can begin
de-mining and erecting a perimeter fence. This preparation work is
expected to take three weeks to one month to complete.


3. (SBU) Despite the various difficulties the 100 MW Power Plant has
encountered over the past year (reftels) the project appears to be
only one week behind schedule. Adjustments may be possible once the
site has been prepared and the contractor can review/revise work
schedules and project officers expect to be able to make up the
time. All three gensets have been ordered by the contractor and the
first 67 MW of power from the plant (the first two gensets) is
expected to begin flowing into the Kabul grid in January 2009.

Dell