Afghanistan, Kabul, 8 September / Trend corr. A.Hakimi / The energy minister asks the Cabinet for millions to feed Kabul's generators.
The minister of water and power has asked the government for $207 million to provide extra fuel for Kabul city's generator.
Minister Ismail Khan, who sent the budget request to the Cabinet for approval, said it takes 1.8 million liters of diesel to run the capital's generators for six months
Thermal electric energy costs Afg7.50 per kilowatt, or three times more than the cost of hydro-electric power.
The minister blamed the lack of water and the delay in a power agreement with neighboring Uzbekistan on the lack of electricity in the capital and for his reliance on diesel generators.
One Kabuli asked why Khan had spent millions of dollars on the generators but had failed to use them regularly.
Khan came under fire from Kabulis earlier this week after he announced plans to dish out eight hours of electricity per day to 70% of Kabul homes during Ramadan, a promise many said he broke three days into the holy month.
The Ministry says there are enough generators to supply Kabul with energy entirely, whilst there is not enough fuel to run them with.