Submitted by Abby Sugrue
Mayor Muhammad Yunus Nawandish of Kabul needed a creative solution. He wanted to build street lamps to light the darkened city, and provide safety and security to residents and visitors. However, with limited power generation and distribution systems, an innovative approach was needed.
Mayor Muhammad Yunus Nawandish of Kabul Photo Credit: Abby Sugrue/USAID
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked closely with the Mayor’s office and Sustainable Energy Services Afghanistan (SESA) on a pilot program to use renewable energy to provide street lights to the 6 million people living within the city limits. With over 300 days of sun, Kabul City is an ideal place to explore the usage of the sun to power its streets. These solar street lights will not only provide more security and raise community morale, they will also support economic development by encouraging new nighttime commerce, and increasing civilian movement and emergency response.
The pilot program broke ground on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 in a roadside ceremony in the heart of Kabul, near the Jumhoriat National Specialized Hospital. The ceremony was covered my local media and attended by Mayor Nawandish and Deputy Mayor Abdul Ahad, as well as senior U.S. officials.
“Lighting is essential to improving the quality of life throughout Afghanistan,” Mayor Nawandish said. “I’m proud that Kabul is leading the way down the path to renewable energy for our country.”
The street lights are expected to be installed and operational by the end of the year and will include 28 stand-alone Solar LED street poles, providing light in one of the most critical commercial corridors.
This project represents a true collaboration between the United States Government, the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Mayor of Kabul City, and the Kabul City Working Group, a cross-cutting advisory panel dedicated to the issues and concern of Kabul. This partnership will continue as further project sites are being identified throughout Kabul.
I salute to you Mayor!! That’s a brilliant idea to give build street lamps to light the darkened city. I hope our city mayor could also think of resolution too.
This is actually a very good idea. They should just keep in mind to offer the opportunity to the people of Kabul to invest in those solar street lights in order to prevent thievery or vandalism.
Wonderful work but only 28 light poles? How about 2800? At the same time this is a great opportunity to train Afghans in the technical skills of raising and maintaining the lights. If the entire project costs, say, $1000 USD per light pole, at $1 million per US soldier per year that it cost to keep them here, just put 3 soldiers on planes home and it’s paid for. The goodwill and economic benefits generated will pay dividends for many years.
It is realy wonderful work from US army to the Kabul city and i am also agree with Mr. Ralph Lopes that the should train Afghans in the technical skills. thanks from US army projects in Afghanistan realy useful.
Ah. Sohrab Taki
Kabul – Afghanistan
Very good idea. This is a really useful project.