Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program (Afghanistan) Explained

The Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program is a proposed electric power transmission link intended to supply Afghanistan with power from other Central Asian countries[1] as well as interconnecting the ten separate power grids within Afghanistan.[2] It is unofficially known as TUTAP, which stands for the names of the countries involved: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The project was approved by the Asian Development Bank on 15 December 2015.[3]

A decision to reroute the project through Salang Pass, rather than Bamyan Province, led to a protest by Hazara people, organising as the Enlightenment Movement, who felt that this decision would continue the long-term discrimination against Hazaras.[1] On 23 July 2016, this protest was bombed, killing at least 80 people and injuring 260.[4]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36305567 "What's behind Afghan power project protests?"
  2. https://thediplomat.com/2016/05/tutap-energy-project-sparks-political-infighting-in-afghanistan/ "TUTAP Energy Project Sparks Political Infighting in Afghanistan"
  3. http://www.adb.org/projects/47282-001/main#project-overview "Afghanistan: Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program (Formerly Multitranche Financing Facility II: Energy Development 2014-2023)"
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/23/hazara-minority-targeted-by-suicide-bombs-at-kabul-protest 'Isis claims responsibility for Kabul bomb attack on Hazara protesters'