400-ton reply to terror: India will airlift 5 power transformers to Kabul
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Kabul
Indian Express
Pranab Dhal Samanta Posted online: Saturday, May 03, 2008 at 0018 hrs
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NEW DELHI, MAY 2: Barely three weeks after the Taliban killed two
Indian engineers in a suicide attack on the Zaranj-Delaram road in
Nimroz province of Afghanistan, India is set to carry out its heaviest
airlift operation for transporting five mega transformers to light up
Kabul.
The first flight takes off on Sunday. Three 40 MVA transformers
weighing 64 tonnes each and two 160 MVA transformers weighing 90
tonnes each will be sent this month in two phases aboard specially
arranged AN-124 planes, the largest transport aircraft in the world
that can carry up to 120 tonnes of cargo.
The second lot will surpass the 70-tonne gas turbine BHEL had sent to
Malaysia in 2003, which is considered the heaviest airlift in India.
These transformers will be installed at the Kabul sub-station by BHEL,
which is responsible for the project and is committed to completing
the task by August. So, the 40 MVA transformers will be moved in three
flights on May 4, 5 & 7. The 160 MVA transformers will move towards
the month-end.
With Pakistan still denying India transit rights into Afghanistan,
India has been sending aid and assistance material through a
circuitous route via the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran. From Iran, the
goods are transferred by road through the some of the most troubled
areas of Afghanistan like Herat and Kandahar.
After the recent suicide attack in that area, there is an increased
threat perception about the Taliban possibly targeting convoys
carrying Indian goods and material.
Given that these are bulky transformers which have to travel for days
together on road and could prove to be easy targets, New Delhi did not
want to take a chance as any loss or damage would only delay
completion of the project. More so, bringing electricity to Kabul is
among India’s most prestigious infrastructure projects in
Afghanistan.
Currently, diesel generators, for which US provides over $100 million
worth of fuel, serve Kabul’s power needs. In a massive effort to draw
electricity from the Uzbekistan border, India is building the last leg
of the transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul and setting up the
main sub-station in the city to this end. India, it may be noted, has
shipped some 700 pre-fabricated towers that are being set up to lay
the transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri. With only 25-odd AN-124 in-
service aircraft available in the world, sources said, it was
difficult to book the flights. In the end, two windows in May were
found suitable.