Kamal Khan Dam Explained

Kamal Khan dam
Location Map:Afghanistan
Coordinates:30.324°N 61.8834°W
Country:Afghanistan
Location:Chahar Burjak District, Nimruz Province
Purpose:Irrigation and Hydroelectricity
Status:Completed
Construction Began:1974
Opening:24 March 2021
Cost:$78-85 million
Owner:Ministry of Energy and Water
Operator:National Water Affairs Regulation Authority
Dam Type:Gravity
Dam Crosses:Helmand River
Dam Height:16 m
Dam Length:2.274Km main dam
Dam Elevation Crest:532
Dam Width Crest:9m (changing)
Dam Width Base:90m (changing)
Spillway Type:Ogee
Res Capacity Total:52 million cubic meters
Plant Annual Gen:9 GWh

Kamal Khan Dam (Persian: بند کمال خان ,Pushto; Pashto: کمال خان بند) is a hydroelectric and irrigation dam project on the Helmand River in Chahar Burjak District of Nimruz Province in south-western Afghanistan. It is located about 95 km to the southeast of Zaranj. Construction work on the dam officially began in 1974 but after the 1978 Saur Revolution, the Americans involved in the construction were compelled to leave Afghanistan and the project was abandoned.[1] It was recently completed.[2] [3]

The hydroelectric plant produces 9 MW of electric power in addition to providing irrigation to about 175000ha of agricultural land.[4] [5] Its reservoir has the capacity to store up to 52 million cubic meters of fresh water.

Kamal Khan Dam is managed by Afghanistan's National Water Affairs Regulation Authority (NWARA), which is under the Ministry of Energy and Water.[6] Work on the 3rd phase of the dam began on 19 April 2017 by President Ashraf Ghani and members of his administration.[7] [8] [9] The Iranian government often request from the Afghan government the releases more water toward Iran.[10] [11] [12]

Kamal Khan Dam was inaugurated by President Ashraf Ghani on 24 March 2021.[13]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Helmand's Golden Age. https://web.archive.org/web/20140807181032/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2014/newsspec_8529/index.html. 7 August 2014. BBC News. 2021-02-04.
  2. News: Kamal Khan Dam reservoir fills up with water . Khaama Press . 4 January 2021 . 2021-02-04.
  3. News: Inauguration of Kamal Khan Dam soon: Ahadi . Pajhwok Afghan News . 4 January 2021 . 2021-02-04.
  4. News: Afghanistan successfully tests water flow at major dam. Anadolu Agency. 4 January 2021. 4 February 2021.
  5. News: Kamal Khan Water Dam entangled in challenges from neighbors . The Frontier Post . 2020-01-07 . 2020-06-11.
  6. Web site: Afghanistan National Water Information System development . 2021-03-20.
  7. News: Inauguration of Kamal Khan Dam soon: Ahadi . Pajhwok Afghan News . 27 September 2018 . 2020-06-11.
  8. News: Ghani Inaugurates Next Phase Of Kamal Khan Dam Project . TOLOnews . 20 April 2017 . 2021-02-11.
  9. News: Work on Kamal Khan Dam phase-III to begin soon . Pajhwok Afghan News . 4 January 2021 . 2017-07-18.
  10. News: Islamic Emirate Reacts to Remarks of Iranian President . TOLOnews . 19 May 2023 . 2023-05-19.
  11. News: Kamal Khan Water Dam entangled in challenges from Neighbors . 2020-06-13 . Ariana News . January 7, 2020.
  12. News: Rasmussen . Sune Engel . 2017-03-22 . Dam project promises water – but also conflict – for dusty Afghan border lands . en-GB . The Guardian . 2020-06-12 . 0261-3077.
  13. Web site: Decades in making, Afghan mega dam opens on Iran border . Anadolu Agency . 2021-03-24.