KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's first wind farm is due to open 10 November, supplying power for the provincial government in Panjsher and serving as a symbol of progress.
Partnering with the local Panjsheri workforce and a contractor based out of New Zealand, engineers from ISAF's Panjsher Provincial Reconstruction Team developed the $977,000 hybrid power generation and distribution system to provide running water, hot water and a septic system for the new government facility.
"The wind farm is significant because it offers an opportunity to study the feasibility of constructing larger megawatt wind turbines and serve as a 'working laboratory' for long-term study on wind power potential", Captain Jason Aftanas, chief engineer said .
The wind farm will also improve coordinating efforts within the provincial government.
"Now that power is being provided on a consistent basis to the new government facility, the governor's staff and key ministry personnel have moved into the building and are operating just a few doors down from one another", Aftanas said.
Contact Information ISAF Public Affairs Office
Tel: +93 (0)79 51 1155 - Mobile: 0093 (0) 799 55 8291 pressoffice@hq.isaf.nato.int - www.nato.int/isaf/