Business

Bayat Power in talks with Afghan officials for Phase 2 of gas to electricity project

Sahibzada said Bayat Power’s natural gas to electricity generation project will eventually produce up to 250 megawatts of electricity once Phase 3 is complete.

Published

1 year ago

August 27, 2024

Ariana News

Last Updated on: August 28, 2024

Bayat Power officials say they are hoping to start work soon on Phase 2 of Bayat Power-1 in northern Jawzjan province in order to increase electricity production output for Afghanistan.

Company officials said Tuesday they have started discussions with relevant government departments to start the project.

Mohammad Shoaib Sahibzada, the technical head of Bayat Power, said that once Phase 2 is complete, electricity production will increase from 40 to 100 megawatts.

Sahibzada said Bayat Power’s natural gas to electricity generation project will eventually produce up to 250 megawatts of electricity once Phase 3 is complete.

“Currently, it has a production of 40 megawatts, and in the second phase, it will produce 100 megawatts. Bayat Power is in contact with the relevant officials regarding the start of the second phase, the discussions are ongoing,” said Sahibzada.

Bayat Power has produced one billion kilowatt hours of electricity in under five years after starting commercial operations in late 2019.

Sahibzada said that over the past five years, the company has also worked on capacity building of its technical employees.

After 40 years, Bayat Power is the first private company to produce electricity from natural gas in the country and the multi-million dollar plant uses Siemens Energy’s SGT-A45 mobile gas turbine for its economic efficiency, flexible deployment, and power density.

Currently providing electricity to hundreds of thousands of end-users and generating more than 300 million kWh annually, the project was structured as an innovative public-private partnership between Bayat Power, Siemens Energy, and Afghanistan government entities such as the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the Ministry of Energy and Water, and the General Directorate of Afghan Gas Corporation Company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), and international partners.

The Bayat Group is the largest private investor in Afghanistan and Bayat Power is currently the only gas-powered plant in the country. The Siemens Energy’s SGT-A45 mobile gas turbine used by the company is the only one in operation in the world.

The former head of DABS Amanullah Ghalib said this week that Bayat Power was a good example of Afghanistan being able to implement big projects.

“To achieve self-sufficiency, one of the most important resources for Afghanistan is natural gas. Afghanistan has a lot of natural gas resources in the north and northeast, from which it can become self-sufficient for electricity production and reduce its dependence on its neighbors,” said Ghalib.

“Bayat Power project is one of the very effective and good examples that Afghanistan can use its experience and implement bigger projects in the future,” Ghalib added.

Afghanistan’s Bayat Power the Proud Winner of Asian Power Award 2023

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Business

Afghanistan-Kazakhstan banking ties discussed in Kabul meeting

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2025

Ariana News

A Kazakh delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan met with Sediqullah Khalid, First Deputy Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, to discuss ways of strengthening banking and economic cooperation between the two countries.

According to a statement issued by Da Afghanistan Bank, Khalid said the central bank is keen to establish regular and effective banking relations with Kazakhstan as part of broader efforts to expand bilateral trade.

He noted that enhanced banking cooperation would help facilitate trade, investment, and wider economic interaction between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, while also contributing to financial stability at the regional level.

Members of the Kazakh delegation also emphasized the importance of developing banking and economic ties and expressed their readiness to expand joint cooperation.

The two sides further agreed to establish technical committees from both countries to hold expert-level discussions and advance practical steps for cooperation.

Business

Afghanistan, Kazakhstan envoys discuss expanding trade and regional connectivity

Ambassador Shakeeb thanked Kazakhstan for its continued support and constructive engagement with Afghanistan, particularly in efforts aimed at peace and economic development.

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2025

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, has met with Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, to explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations and advance regional cooperation.

The two envoys exchanged views on Afghanistan–Kazakhstan ties, regional connectivity, and major infrastructure initiatives, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing regional trade. Discussions also touched on Kazakhstan’s role in promoting regional stability and other matters of mutual interest.

Ambassador Shakeeb thanked Kazakhstan for its continued support and constructive engagement with Afghanistan, particularly in efforts aimed at peace and economic development.

He expressed hope that the proposed $3 billion joint trade agreement, once finalized, would bring tangible benefits to both countries and contribute to broader regional economic integration.

Ambassador Kistafin reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s support for stability and economic growth in Afghanistan, highlighting his country’s involvement in key regional connectivity and trade projects.

He said the current security and stability situation in Afghanistan has increased Kazakhstan’s confidence in expanding regional trade and transit, and praised the efforts of the Islamic Emirate in this regard.

He also stressed the need for coordinated regional efforts to ensure lasting stability, sustainable economic development, and the smooth movement of goods and transit across the region.

Business

Mahirood Customs leads Iran’s exports to Afghanistan

More than 1.5 million tonnes of goods were exported to Afghanistan through the border crossing during this period.

Published

3 days ago

December 17, 2025

Ariana News

Mahirood Customs in South Khorasan province has become Iran’s main export gateway to Afghanistan, accounting for 36 percent of the country’s total exports to its eastern neighbor, Iranian officials said.

South Khorasan Governor Seyed Mohammadreza Hashemi told local media that Mahirood ranked first among Iran’s 71 active customs points during the first eight months of the current Iranian year.

More than 1.5 million tonnes of goods were exported to Afghanistan through the border crossing during this period.

Official customs figures show that Iran’s total exports to Afghanistan exceeded 4.26 million tonnes in the first eight months of the year, with Mahirood handling the largest share, Hashemi said.

He attributed the strong performance to South Khorasan’s strategic location, improved border infrastructure, effective planning, close cooperation with traders, and coordinated efforts by government agencies.

Hashemi said the expansion of exports via Mahirood Customs is contributing to economic growth, job creation, and stronger economic diplomacy for the province.

He added that continued support for exporters and streamlined customs procedures could further increase South Khorasan’s share of the Afghan market and other target markets in the future.