Panjshir PRT Civil Engineers work to bring power to Afghanistan

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Members of the U.S. Army and Air Force are working together with U.S. civilian engineers to bring clean, renewable electricity to Afghanistan.

 A team of engineers from the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team set out to perform site surveys of public works projects in remote villages of the Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, March 14.

The first stop brought them to the district of Shotul. Here, like in many other places in Afghanistan, water flowing from springs and the melting mountain snow form creeks and waterways that are harnessed by locals to provide irrigation for primitive farming.

In Shotul, villagers showed the PRT an ineffective aqueduct, which not only provides irrigation, but helps to power a micro-hydro power plant that supplies limited, clean, and renewable electricity to homes in the immediate area.

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Jason Adams, a member of the Panjshir PRT, from Glendale, Ariz., evaluated the damage. “Right now it’s leaking. It’s just not high quality. We want to make something a little more permanent.”

The team spoke about different methods of repair. They decided on a design that Scott Davis, construction representative, Army Corp of Engineers of Omaha, Nebraska, called “very doable.” The emphasis will be on sustainability.

Davis said, “Instead of repairing it every year after the flood season, it will be a sustainable project for years to come.”

Notes were jotted, measurements taken, and pictures snapped, then the team was ready to move on.

The next stop took them around narrow, winding hills that hug the sides of steep mountains to the village of Janan Joi.

Here in the remote area, villagers had requested help building one of the micro-hydro units to provide power that they could use at night for lighting and small appliances.

Accompanied by a representative of the district governor, they hiked several hundred feet down a rough path into the valley to find the best site for the project.

Micro-hydro units are becoming increasingly popular. Since power distribution can be expensive and difficult over the mountainous country, the small units can provide electricity in remote places.
 
In addition to being a clean source of power, PRT engineer Daniel O. Fredrickson of Dahlgren, Va. said, “This allows them to take advantage of their natural resources.”

However, Fredrickson noted that micro-hydro units, which have a total cost of around $120,000, require a high level of quality in the construction, and periodic maintenance to stay functional for long-term usage.

Structural non-commissioned officer, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Louk of Petal, Miss., is charged with quality assurance. Louk, who was decorated for his humanitarian efforts after hurricane Katrina, worked closely with contractors to make sure they maintain the degree of quality needed to make the endeavor last.

“I look at the project from a craftsmanship point of view,” said Louk. “It’s very rewarding being able to help mentor local contractors and move them forward in the construction practice.”

A discussion on the edge of a cliff overlooking the river valley ensued between the PRT, government officials and village representatives. All agreed that they were off to a good start.