Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09KABUL1088, AFGHANISTAN: GOVERNMENT AND DONOR COORDINATED EFFORTS BRING

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09KABUL1088.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09KABUL1088 2009-04-29 13:50 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Kabul
VZCZCXRO2061
PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #1088 1191350
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291350Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8671
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0792
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0018
UNCLAS KABUL 001088 
 
DEPT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A 
DEPT PASS FOR AID/ASIA 
DEPT PASS USTR FOR DELANEY AND DEANGELIS 
DEPT PASS OPIC 
DEPT PASS FOR TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP 
USOECD FOR ENERGY ATTACHE 
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A 
NSC FOR JWOOD 
TREASURY FOR MHIRSON, ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGET 
DASD FOR DSEDNEY 
COMMERCE FOR DEES AND FONOVICH 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.  12958 N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EFIN ETRD KPWR EAID PGOV
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: GOVERNMENT AND DONOR COORDINATED EFFORTS BRING 
MORE POWER TO KABUL 
 
1. (U) Summary.  Continued progress in the building and 
rehabilitation of Afghanistan's energy transmission and distribution 
infrastructure will soon result in additional power reaching Kabul. 
The North East Power System (NEPS) will handle the additional import 
of Uzbek power after a joint government/donor coordinated effort 
successfully energizes and commissions a new 220kV transmission 
line.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Since late January, Kabul has been receiving 40MW of 
electricity from Uzbekistan through an "extension cord" devised and 
implemented by various donors (including USAID) to alleviate harsh 
winter conditions at the behest of the Inter-Ministerial Commission 
on Energy (ICE).  This transmission operates through older 110kV 
infrastructure and originates from the Amu substation in Uzbekistan, 
bypassing the new distribution network of the NEPS, which operates 
at 220kV.  Beginning this week, a team consisting of various 
personnel from the Ministry of Energy and Water, DABS (national 
electric utility), and donor funded contractors will "energize" the 
new 220kV transmission network originating at the Surkhan substation 
(Uzbekistan) and ending in Kabul.  Once this process is completed, 
an additional 50-90MW of power will be delivered to Kabul. 
 
3. (SBU) Preparations to energize NEPS have been under way for the 
past two months in order to ensure safe transmission and little or 
no disruption of power to Kabul or Mazar-e-Sharif.  The process 
involves hot testing and commissioning of each segment/substation 
independently and sequentially.  The energization process is 
particularly difficult because portions of the NEPS have not been 
completed, necessitating various technical workarounds.  To execute 
the 220kV commissioning, the 110 kV supply must be shut off, 
effectively reducing the power Kabul now receives by 40MW.  Expected 
to begin as early as April 30, the shut off is projected to last 
five days.  However, actual duration will be governed by technical 
problems encountered during the energization process. 
 
4. (SBU) Kabul residents have grown accustomed to increased 
electricity supply (average 12-16 hours daily) since the inception 
of the "extension cord".  Diesel fuel (provided using USAID funding) 
has been stockpiled at the NW Kabul diesel generation plant to 
replace the power that will be lost during the energization process. 
 There is sufficient diesel fuel at NW Kabul for up to 20 days of 
operation. 
 
5. (SBU) Comment.  Additional energy supply to Kabul will 
undoubtedly improve city morale and provide additional impetus to 
enhanced economic activity.  Nevertheless, additional electricity 
translates to larger payments to the Uzbeks, compelling DABS to 
reduce transmission losses and improve tariff collection 
expeditiously.  The U.S. Mission is supporting this reality by 
funding the commercialization of Kabul's Electricity District (KED). 
 This proposal is currently awaiting final signature by SRAP 
Ambassador Holbrooke. 
 
RICCARDONE