Afghanistan’s electricity authority invites expressions of interest from consultants to assist utility operations and help implement transmission system improvements and develop small hydropower projects. Responses are due January 22.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$570 million energy sector investment program for Afghanistan in November, including funding for mini-hydropower projects in rural areas of two provinces. (HNN 12/4/08) The current work is covered by Tranche 1 of funding totaling US$164 million plus US$12 million from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR).
Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (Afghanistan Electricity Authority) (DABS) is to recruit consultants for rehabilitation of distribution systems of Kunduz to Baghlan, constructing a new 220-kilovolt transmission line from Kunduz to Taloqan, rehabilitating gas fields in Sheberghan, developing the 2.1-MW Baharak small hydro plant on the Warduj River and mini-grid (HNN 2/8/08), and constructing small and mini-hydropower plants in Badakshan and Bamyan provinces.
The Badakshan and Bamyan mini-hydros are to be funded under JFPR guidelines in which consultants will be recruited separately from the other tasks. That portion of the project is to identify ten potential mini-hydropower plant sites from which a maximum of four sites would be finalized for implementation. Up to four projects would be constructed with an aggregate installed capacity of up to 2 MW.
Consultants are to assist with day-to-day operation and training of the DABS Program Management Office, project studies and design, cost estimates and construction schedules, environmental and resettlement plans, bidding program assistance, and construction supervision. Work is to require 48 months.
Information on the solicitation is on the ADB Internet site at http://csrn.adb.org:8080/csrn/publicProjectList.htm. Terms of reference are available on the same site. Expressions of interest may be submitted by January 22 via the ADB Internet site at http://csrn.adb.org:8080/csrn/login.jsp.
Under a tentative schedule, a short list of prospective bidders would be named by January 23. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin June 1.
For information, contact Chief Executive Officer M.J. Shams, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (Afghanistan Electricity Authority), Chamne Huzuri, near Kabul Nendari, Afghanistan; Tel/Fax: (93) 20-2103602; E-mail: [email protected].
The ADB project officer is Takafumi Kadono, Infrastructure Division, CWRD, Asian Development Bank, P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines; (63) 2-6326418; E-mail: [email protected]; Internet: www.adb.org.
