An Analytical Study of Electricity Losses in Afghanistan and their Comparative Assessment with Selected Neighboring and Regional Countries

Abstract

Electricity losses are one of the major challenges in the power supply systems of Asian countries, particularly Afghanistan, as they lead to reduced efficiency, increased costs, and disruptions in service delivery. Examining electricity losses in Afghanistan is a vital need for identifying and addressing inefficiencies in the transmission and distribution of electricity. The main objective of this research is to assess the amount of electricity losses in Afghanistan during the years 2016 to 2021 (1395–1400 in the solar calendar) and to compare them with electricity losses in some neighboring and regional countries. The nature of the research is both quantitative and qualitative, and the data is obtained from Da Afghanistan Breshna Company (DABS). The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel software and descriptive methods such as calculating averages, percentages, and drawing graphs. The findings indicate that the level of electricity losses in Afghanistan is significantly higher compared to some neighboring and regional countries. Technical factors such as outdated equipment and poor network design, along with non-technical factors such as electricity theft, weak metering systems, and lack of transparency in management, are among the main causes of these losses.