Country Afghanistan Opening date 1960 | Status Operational Impounds Kabul River | |
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Purpose Irrigation and electricity Owner Ministry of Energy and Water Similar Naghlu Dam, Band‑e Sardeh Dam, Chaki Wardak Dam, Dahla Dam, Qargha Reservoir | ||
The Darunta Dam is a hydroelectric power dam located on the Kabul River, approximately 7 km west of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan.
Map of Darunta Dam, Afghanistan
Darunta Dam was constructed by Soviet Union (USSR) companies in 1964 and its power station contains three vertical Kaplan turbines (six-blade propeller) with a rated output of 3.85 MW each. Originally, the dam supplied 40 to 45 megawatts of electrical power but silting and damage to the system during the Afghan civil war has reduced its actual output to 11.5 megawatts. The plant is currently in very poor condition and requires major rehabilitation including possible replacement of all three turbines.
ANHAM was contracted by USAID to perform the rehabilitation of the Darunta Hydroelectric Power Plant. Rehabilitation is in progress and expected completion date was 31 January 2012. On 4 March 2013 Wadsam reported that USAID suspended aid to the project due to the failure of Governor Gul Agha Sherzai in fulfilling his promise to finance 10% of the total cost of the USD 11mn project.