Objective. The objective of this USAID-funded project is to design and support the development of the potentially signficant reserves of natural gas in the northern areas of the country to generate electricity for residential and commercial use.

Background. With a growing demand for reliable electric power and persistently high fuel prices, efficient use of indigenous resources for power generation is a high priority for Afghanistan’s energy security. The gas fields to be studied, the Gerquduq and Yatimtaq Fields, were first discovered by Soviet geologists and drillers in the 1980s. Gas produced was exported to the Soviet Union and used for both fertilizer production and local commercial and residential purposes in Sheberghan and Mazar-e-Sherif. After the withdrawal of the Soviets in 1989, exploration and further development of the fields mostly ceased.

Anticipated Impact. Electricity from a 100 MW power plant at Sheberghan would provide a significant portion of power supplies for the Northern region, one of the more industrially developed areas of Afghanistan. It could also supply power for other regions through Northern Electrical Power System (NEPS), now in initial operation with assistance from USAID and other donors. NEPS is primarily designed to import power from neighboring countries.

Status. This task order was terminated for U.S. Government convenience on 1 June 2009.