HERAT -- The Iranian government has abruptly reduced the amount of electricity supplied to Herat province, forcing factories to halt operations and making everyday life uncomfortable during summer heat.
Under an agreement between Iran and Afghanistan, Iran is obligated to export about 120 megawatts of electricity to the province.
Since August 8, however, Iran has reduced the supply to 30 megawatts.
Production in Herat Industrial City has subsequently decreased by 70%, said Hamidullah Khadem, chairman of the Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines.
![Machines sit idle August 16 at a food processing factory in Herat Industrial City after the Iranian regime abruptly reduced power supply to Herat province. [Emran/Salaam Times]](/cnmi_st/images/2023/08/24/43581-s_4-739_416.webp)
Machines sit idle August 16 at a food processing factory in Herat Industrial City after the Iranian regime abruptly reduced power supply to Herat province. [Emran/Salaam Times]
"Iran has violated the agreement by reducing the electricity supplied to Herat. It has done so in the past as well, without any coordination, causing major losses to Herat's industry and people," he said.
"Of the imported electricity from Iran, 100 megawatts [out of 120 megawatts] provides the power for the Industrial City," he said, referring to the former level of power supplied.
Now the Industrial City has to find power when the whole province receives only 30 megawatts.
The power sometimes goes out without warning, according to Khadem.
"Every time there is a blackout, factories' machinery stops working, resulting in up to $10,000 (845,000 AFN) in losses at each factory. In the Industrial City, 400 factories incur losses daily," he added.
Because of these problems, 20,000 of the 30,000 workers in the Industrial City have lost their jobs, Khadem said.
Nek Mohammad Elhami, who manages a plastic factory in Herat Industrial City, said his factory's operations are on hiatus due to power outages, which have left some 150 of his employees without work.
"We have invested millions of dollars in the Industrial City, but now it is in an uncertain situation because of power shortages."
"By cutting off power, Iran is trying to force Afghan industries to move overseas," he said.
"When the power is cut off, raw material remains stuck inside the machines and is wasted. We have to spend large amounts of money to open the machines and take the material out," he added.
If the power issue is not resolved, factories in the Industrial City will have to cease operations, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs, Elhami said.
Halt in domestic production
A few of the Industrial City's factories are continuing operations by using diesel generators.
Ghulam Jilani, the production manager of a food factory in Herat's Industrial City, said that he has managed to keep only one of his factory's five production lines operational by using diesel generators.
"We face serious power shortages due to the reduction of power supply from Iran," he said, adding that Iran did it without prior notice.
Raw material worth millions of afghanis has been wasted in production cycles, he added.
"With the halt in electricity supply, our production has decreased by 70%, so we cannot meet our customers' demands."
"There are fewer domestic products sold on the market every day. They are being replaced by imported Iranian products," he added.
One hundred fifty of his workers are out of work because of the current power conditions, he added.
Azizullah, the breadwinner of a six-member family who works at a food factory in Herat Industrial City, has been unable to work amid the power shortages.
"The company I work for has reduced production by 80% because of power shortages. Most of its employees, including myself, are out of work. We don't get paid if we don't work," he said.
"My only source of income is this factory. If this situation continues long term, I will start facing economic problems." he said.
Iranian regime's 'revenge'
The Iranian regime has decreased the electricity supply because the flow of water from the Helmand River to Iran has decreased, say Herat residents.
Iranian officials earlier this year accused their Afghan counterparts of not meeting their obligations to provide Iran with its "water rights" from the Helmand.
"Iran has reduced electricity supply to Herat because it did not get water from the Helmand River, but electricity import is a separate issue from Helmand River water," said Naseem Hashemi, 31, a resident of Herat city.
"We pay Iran for its electricity, but it wants free water from Afghanistan."
"For years, Iran received more free water from the Helmand River than the amount that was agreed upon, but this year there is less water, and even Afghans have faced severe water shortages due to the drought," he added.
"There is no water to address the needs of Afghan farmers, but Iran wants water."
"Although Iran has an agreement with Afghanistan, every year it halts electricity export to Herat in summer and winter when electricity demand is high," said Abdul Rahim Qane, 25, another resident.
"Most of the time there are blackouts at hospitals, trade centers and residential areas, causing many problems ... in hot or cold weather."
"The halt to electricity supply by the government of Iran is a form of revenge inflicted on Afghans. Because of the drought, water from the Helmand River does not reach Iran, but the Iranian government either punishes Afghan refugees in Iran or cuts off the electricity supply," he added.
The Iranian government should be asked to compensate Afghans for the losses caused by electricity shortages, Qane said.
Kick Afghans out of Iran, tomorrow is too late.
Reply12 Comment
Can you let us know if Salaam Times will continue its publications? Salaam Times is one of the most reliable media outlets in Afghanistan, which not only publishes useful articles related to the internal developments of Afghanistan, but also related to the political, economic, and social developments of Afghanistan's neighbors, such as Pakistan, Iran, and China, but unfortunately it has been a long time since Salaam Times does not publish anything in Dari and Pashto languages. Has the Taliban banned Salaam Times like other media in the country? If so, we ask the Taliban to remove their sanctions from all Afghan media, including Salaam Times, so that the people of Afghanistan can freely use reliable media such as Salaam Times and learn about the developments inside and outside of Afghanistan. With regards
Reply12 Comment
For many days, Salaam Times has not published fresh news and reports. Does Salaam Times want to stop its publications? Salaam Times is our wonderful magazine that publishes comprehensive information. Although Salaam Times magazine does not publish anything about Pakistan's hypocrisy, it provides detailed reports. It analyzes the subversive and anti-Islamic policies of China, Iran, and Russia in the region.
Reply12 Comment
Iran has never behaved as a good neighbor to Afghans. Now, if the electricity is cut off, hundreds of thousands of Afghans, who are forced to go to Iran or Turkey through smuggling routes, have been severely beaten and hit by Iranian police and have been sent to the limit of death. There is no human sympathy, no Islam, and no neighborliness. Iran should be treated similarly! Otherwise, we will burn in the fire the whole life because of this cruel country.
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Relations between human societies are not one-sided, but two-sided and mutual. They give something and take something. If one party does not adhere to its obligations, it is certain that the other party will also refuse to fulfill its obligations.
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Tehran and Kabul on the road to revitalizing the Silk Road The Iran-Afghanistan-China railway is the focus of the meeting between the officials of the two countries In a meeting with the members of the Iran Railway Development Consortium, head of the railway department of the interim government of Afghanistan discussed the Iran-Afghanistan-China railway project. According to reports, Bakht ur Rahman Sharafat, head of the railway department of the interim government of Afghanistan, met with Mohammad Rashidian, head of the 'Naw Andishan Project' company, one of the member companies of the Iran Railway Development Consortium. According to the announcement published by the Afghanistan Railway Administration, in this meeting, the initial plan of this company regarding the Iran-Afghanistan-China rail route, including the necessary basic information about this rail route, was presented to the audience in the parliament. Sharafat expressed his satisfaction with the initial plan presented by this company and both sides emphasized that joint negotiations with China should be held in order to attract Chinese investment in this railway route. During his visits from Tehran, head of the Afghanistan Railway Department visited the Iran Industrial Consulting Engineers company, which has carried out detailed studies and design of the second phase of the railway project of the fourth segment of Khawaf-Herat. In this meeting, the Iranian company handed over the detailed studies and design of
Reply12 Comment
Iranians are cruel people. Instead of doing good to their Muslim brothers, their oppression of Afghans increases every day. Every day Iranians beat our helpless Afghans, and instead of the mercenary government of Afghanistan taking care of its people, hearing the voice of its people, it makes political deals with its neighbors. Every day, Iran forces out thousands of Afghans from its soil and then sends them to Afghanistan, while there is no labor work in Afghanistan and people are facing many challenges; however, the Taliban say that Iranians are very good people and they don't have any problems. Quoting a Taliban official, Iranian news agency Tasnim says, "Iran has never used Afghan immigrants as a lever of pressure". Hey Taliban, are you dumb or their is dirt in your head? Iranians are cruel and oppressive. Know them well, then make a decision about them... I say that the rulers of Iran, by playing the game of connecting and disconnecting the electricity, reducing and increasing customs services, and reducing and increasing fuel and food exports to Afghanistan, are little by little bringing the spontaneous armed Taliban groups to the cell.
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As much good we have done with Iran and Pakistan, they have hurt us in the same level. Authorities of these two governments are oppressing the people of Afghanistan as much as possible. Iran and Pakistan are Muslims only by name, there is no sign of Islam in them.
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Iran never wants to see the people of Afghanistan have a factory. The Iranian government looks at Afghans in a very bad way. If one of our doctors or engineers travel to Iran and has the title of doctor or engineer in his passport, the Iranian airport police officers will smile that he is a doctor or engineer in Afghanistan. Iranians and the government of Iran believe that Afghans are literate, because most of the Afghan immigrants living in Iran do construction work. Iranians think that all Afghans are mercenaries. Iran does not want Afghanistan to own manufacturing factories. That's why it cuts off the electricity from time to time.
ReplyIn this part, a decisive decision must be made. If Iran cuts off the electricity to Afghanistan, the water that goes from Afghanistan to Iran should be cut off at the same moment. Afghanistan can also make half-wells inside the country for the same purpose as Iran's half-wells. And if the devils of Iran's corrupt regime want to take any bad decision against Afghanistan, the Afghan government should act in a similar manner immediately. Dirty Iranians and Pakistanis have always adopted deceitful and treacherous policies against Afghans and Afghanistan, and they have no intention of turning away from their hypocrisy in the future.
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Iranians are very bigoted people. They could not find any other way; therefore, they are satisfying their hatred this way. We have begged people all our lives, while Iran and Pakistan have to beg us for water, but because of their slaves, we are forced to endure hardship. If these people were not left alone since the era of the government of [President] Dawood Khan until today, then this kind of oppression would not have happened to Afghans today. Nowadays, Iranians are bad guys; they don't even care about Afghans. For God's sake, if it is not a matter of dishonesty, what else is it, as you do not fulfill the promise under the contract and violate it? The Taliban government needs to solve the electricity problem in this regard first. Otherwise, the best way is to shut down the water on them to see the result.
Reply12 Comment
Iranians are not guilty as they cut electricity to Herat and those provinces that receive electricity from Iran. We Afghans do not care to live as humans. If we had given ourselves and our countrymen a life full of humanity and light in the past 21 years, when there was a republic and money was coming to Afghanistan from many countries of the world, including the United States, then many issues, including electricity, would have been solved. You should have paid attention. Afghanistan would own many things if the money in the previous 21 years were correctly managed. It would have had significant and small water dams, and electricity would come from internal sources. It would not always be the case as Iran cuts the electricity, Tajikistan cuts it, or Uzbekistan cuts the electricity. It is not only the issue with the electricity, but Afghans face many things in their daily life because most of them do not work, and those who work are stealthy. I mean, they do not do the job as they must. Betrayal of trust is prohibited by Islam, and Afghans, who are more than 99 percent Muslim, still steal... that is why their country faces such a situation...
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