New Delhi, India – The Afghanistan Renewable Energy Union and the Ministry of Energy and Water hosted a two day Afghanistan-India Renewable Energy Summit in New Delhi on August 6 and 7. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Embassy of India in Afghanistan and the Federation of India Chamber of Commerce and Industries supported the event.

Representatives from the Indian renewable energy sector, Afghan enterprises, financial institutions, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, officials from various Afghan Ministries, including, the Ministry of Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy of India, as well as the Ambassador of Afghanistan in India and the Ambassador of India in Afghanistan attended.

The Summit introduced Indian businesses from the renewable energy sector –solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydro – to renewable energy investment opportunities in Afghanistan and included a presentation by the Afghan delegation of the Kandahar Solar Project. This 10-megawatt hybrid solar photovoltaic power project, aims to replace diesel generators as a source of electricity in Kandahar.

USAID Afghanistan Mission Director William Hammink said, “This is an opportunity to continue to link Afghan businesses with Indian partners to facilitate public-private investment in the renewable energy sector. USAID is committed to assisting Afghanistan develop domestic energy resources to stimulate economic and social development.”

Ali Ahmad Usmani, the Afghanistan Minister of Energy and Water added, “The Government of Afghanistan characterizes sustainable development as the strategic solution to continuously spur our economic growth whilst minimizing impacts upon the environment. We intend to foster successful collaboration and strategic partnerships between foreign and local businesses that play a role in promoting the application of renewable energy technologies.”

“Access to power is the most fundamental need for industrial growth and for the improvement of living standards in Afghanistan,” said Amar Sinha, Ambassador of India to Afghanistan. “India is committed to assisting Afghanistan in achieving self-sufficiency for its energy needs through our development projects like Salma Dam and the installation of several power transmission and distribution lines in different provinces. Participation of Indian companies in the Renewable Energy Summit is another step in this direction.”

• Press Release - Afghanistan-India Renewable Energy Summit (Dari)
• Press Release - Afghanistan-India Renewable Energy Summit (Pashto)