VZCZCXRO3625
PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #3676/01 3011155
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281155Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1185
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0547
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4259
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2986
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1625
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0279
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1404
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 7154
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0063
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 2118
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0085
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3772
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1961
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003676
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A (A/S BOUCHER, GASTRIGHT,DEUTSCH)
DEPT PASS AID/ANE, OPIC
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FORZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICENT
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
MANILA PLEASE PASS ADB/USED
PARIS FOR OECD/ENERGY ATTACHE
OSD FOR SHIVERS, SHINN
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
TOKYO ALSO FOR AID COUNSELOR AANENSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET KPWR EAID PGOV AF
SUBJECT: AF: Current Status of 100MW Power Plant for Kabul
KABUL 00003676 001.2 OF 002
Sensitive but Unclassified
1. (SBU) After some delay in finding an appropriate site for the
project, the 100 MW Kabul Power Plant project is underway. What
follows is a short overview of the several project components and
where they currently stand. Overall, the project is on schedule to
deliver 67 MW of power to the Kabul grid by December 2008 and an
additional 33 MW in April 2009. The project has been "fast tracked"
by USAID and the total cost is approximately USD 205 million.
2. (SBU) PROCUREMENT OF THE 100 MW GENSETS - The generator sets
(gensets) have been procured in three packages. Each package
consists of six generator units. In all, three packages, 18
generator units, will be used to supply the full 100 MW to the Kabul
power grid. The USD 109.7 million procurement contract for the
manufacture of the generators was awarded to Caterpillar Power
Generation Systems (CPGS) in August 2007. The contract includes 3
transformers and other associated equipment as well as engineering
services and plant design. The first package of generators is
scheduled to arrive in Kabul in June 2008 followed by July and
November 2008 deliveries of the other two sets. This portion of the
project is currently on schedule.
3. (SBU) PROCUREMENT OF BALANCE OF PLANT - This portion of the
project covers civil, mechanical and electrical works. Included in
this portion of the project are installation of the gensets, a fuel
treatment plant, fuel tanks, an administration building and other
on-site structures. This tender document is about 85 percent
complete and is expected to be awarded on February 14, 2008.
4. (SBU) PROCUREMENT OF 110 Kv INTERCONNECTION - In order to connect
into the existing Kabul transmission system, a 110 Kv substation and
associated switchgear must be constructed. The tender documents for
this portion of the project are 95 percent complete and are
scheduled to be awarded on January 24, 2008.
5. (SBU) PROCUREMENT OF LOGISTICS SERVICES - This portion of the
project covers the shipping/delivery of the three genset packages
and associated equipment, including three step-up transformers.
This tender document is 95 percent complete and will be awarded
January 10, 2008.
6. (SBU) PROCUREMENT OF AN OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT CONTRACT - This
covers the hiring of a project Management Contractor to operate and
maintain the power plant for a one-year period. The contractor is
also obliged to train local staff on operation and maintenance to
enable handover to Afghan authorities. USAID expects to begin
working on this tender document in November 2007 and award the O and
M contract in the September-October 2008 time frame.
7. (SBU) Other, more minor, tasks associated with the preparation of
the project site are currently underway and on schedule. They
include de-mining, a topographical survey, as well as leveling and
KABUL 00003676 002.2 OF 002
fencing of the site. The project is proceeding apace and is
expected to be completed on time.
WOOD