Project Name: 220KV Remaining Work at Kandahar East & Qalat Sub-Station, along with the SVC System at Kandahar East Sub-station (EPC)
Client: DABS
Award Date: July 15, 2025
Project Short Description:
The work scope of the project mainly comprises design, construct, expand, and upgrade of High Voltage (HV) transmission, Medium Voltage (MV) distributio , Reactive Power Compensation (RPC) Systems, Protection and Control Systems, and Substations located in the Provinces of Ghazni, Helmand, Kabul, Kandahar, Wardak, and Zabul in Afghanistan.
The Kandahar East Substation is a 220/110/20 kV grid substation designed to significantly strengthen Afghanistan's national transmission network and improve the reliability of power supply in the southern region of the country. The project comprises a double busbar arrangement, two 220 kV line bays, auto transformers, power transformers, shunt reactors, capacitor banks, and all associated primary and secondary systems required for the safe and reliable operation of the substation.
One of the most significant features of the project is the installation of a Static Var Compensation (SVC) System, an advanced power quality and voltage control technology that is being implemented for the first time in Afghanistan and is among the first of its kind in the surrounding region. The SVC system will enhance voltage stability, improve power factor, reduce transmission losses, increase power transfer capability, and ensure stable operation of the transmission network under varying load conditions. ZNCC is proud to be the first Afghan company entrusted with the engineering, procurement, installation, testing, and commissioning of such a technically complex and strategically important system.
The Kandahar East Substation also serves as a critical interconnection point between the South-East Power System (SEPS) and the North-East Power System (NEPS), enabling the exchange of power between the two major transmission networks. This interconnection will improve overall grid reliability, increase operational flexibility, facilitate power sharing during contingencies, and strengthen the resilience of Afghanistan's national electricity network.
Kandahar is one of Afghanistan's largest and most strategically important cities, with significant potential for industrial, commercial, and economic development. However, the existing power distribution infrastructure is largely conventional and has limited capacity to meet the increasing demand for reliable electricity. Upon completion, the Kandahar East Substation will substantially improve the quality, reliability, and stability of electricity supply throughout Kandahar Province. The project will support future industrial growth, encourage private investment, improve the efficiency of the regional power system, reduce transmission constraints, and enhance the overall performance of DABS' transmission and distribution network.
The successful completion of this project will represent a major milestone for Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) and a significant achievement for Afghanistan's power sector. It will strengthen the national grid, improve energy security, facilitate future network expansion, and contribute to the country's long-term economic growth and sustainable development while improving the quality of life for millions of electricity consumers.
