Report slams U.S. for building power plant Afghans can't run

[unhappycamper]

Report slams U.S. for building power plant Afghans can't run
By Marisa Taylor | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Wednesday, January 20, 2010

WASHINGTON — A $300 million power plant in Afghanistan paid for with U.S. tax dollars was an ill-conceived and mismanaged project that the Afghan government can't afford to switch on now that it's almost finished, a watchdog agency has found.

The project in Kabul has ballooned $40 million over budget and is a year behind schedule because of missteps by the American contractors and the U.S. government, according to an audit released Wednesday by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

If the plant ever runs to full capacity, it could provide tens of thousands of Afghans in the Kabul region with electricity, which would be an achievement in a country in which only 10 percent of the population has it.

Even when the plant is completed in March, however, the Afghan government is unlikely to be able to pay the millions of dollars for diesel fuel that's needed to power the plant and maintain it, the auditors concluded. The U.S. Agency for International Development has agreed to pay for the fuel temporarily.

"USAID may face the difficult decision of whether to continue funding the plant's operations or terminating U.S. involvement with the project and placing the plant's future operation at risk," the report says.


Rest of article at: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/82667.html



unhappycamper comment: At $400 per gallon, that's gonna be some pricey electricity.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. I know Afghanistan is poor but

but how much of US tax payers money?

[unhappycamper]

2. According to the article, 100% is your tax dollars at work.

Or not.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. shouldn't there be a full detailed enquiry what we have psent in Afghanistan?

I thought we were supposed to be catching Bin Laddin not building power plant - but wait we also built a bridge!

[kristopher]

3. Perfect example of Bush/Cheney planning. nt

[conscious evolution]

4. Powered by diesel fuel?

WTF!
What idiot designed this?
Bigger question.What idiot signed off on this?

[bigtree]

6. I still want them to make this electricity project work (or another one)

. . . while, of course, working to address the corruption and waste. The need for electrical power throughout most of Afghanistan is dire. These are the types of projects America should be engaged in, not warring.

[hunter]

7. American contractor's lobbyist: (whining) "We have diesel power plant inventory we can't sell!!!"

American Government: "We'll buy it at a substantial premium and we'll call it aid to Afghanistan!"

American Contractor: (Dancing) "We're in the money! We're in the money!"

American Fuel Contractor in Afghanistan: (Dancing) "We're in the money! We're in the money!"

Afghanistan: "Um, We thought we were getting electricity??? We can't afford to do anything with this thirsty belching monstrosity of a power plant. It's useless to us."

Americans: (Still Dancing) "Who ever said it was about you?"