| Kamal Khan dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Kamal Khan dam in Afghanistan | |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Location | Chahar Burjak District, Nimruz Province |
| Coordinates | 30°19′26″N 61°53′00″E / 30.323984°N 61.88337730°E |
| Purpose | Irrigation and Hydroelectricity |
| Status | Completed |
| Construction began | 1974[1] |
| Opening date | 24 March 2021 |
| Construction cost | $78-85 million[2] |
| Owner(s) | Ministry of Energy and Water |
| Operator(s) | National Water Affairs Regulation Authority |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity |
| Impounds | Helmand River |
| Height | 16 m |
| Length | 2.274Km main dam |
| Elevation at crest | 532 |
| Width (crest) | 9m (changing) |
| Width (base) | 90m (changing) |
| Spillway type | Ogee |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 52 million cubic meters |
| Annual generation | 9 GWh |
Kamal Khan Dam (Persian: بند کمال خان,Pashto: کمال خان بند) is a hydroelectric and irrigation dam project on the Helmand River in Chahar Burjak District of Nimruz Province in south-western Afghanistan. It is located about 95 km to the southeast of Zaranj. Construction work on the dam officially began in 1974 but after the 1978 Saur Revolution, the Americans involved in the construction were compelled to leave Afghanistan and the project was abandoned.[1] It was recently completed.[2][3][4]
The hydroelectric plant produces 9 MW of electric power in addition to providing irrigation to about 175,000 hectares (430,000 acres) of agricultural land.[2][5] Its reservoir has the capacity to store up to 52 million cubic meters of fresh water.
Kamal Khan Dam is managed by Afghanistan's National Water Affairs Regulation Authority (NWARA), which is under the Ministry of Energy and Water.[6] Work on the 3rd phase of the dam began on 19 April 2017 by President Ashraf Ghani and members of his administration.[7][8][9] The Iranian government often request from the Afghan government the releases more water toward Iran.[10][11][12]
Kamal Khan Dam was inaugurated by President Ashraf Ghani on 24 March 2021.[13]
- ^ a b "Helmand's Golden Age". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 August 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Afghanistan successfully tests water flow at major dam". Anadolu Agency. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Kamal Khan Dam reservoir fills up with water". Khaama Press. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Inauguration of Kamal Khan Dam soon: Ahadi". Pajhwok Afghan News. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Kamal Khan Water Dam entangled in challenges from neighbors". The Frontier Post. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "Afghanistan National Water Information System development". Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Inauguration of Kamal Khan Dam soon: Ahadi". Pajhwok Afghan News. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "Ghani Inaugurates Next Phase Of Kamal Khan Dam Project". TOLOnews. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Work on Kamal Khan Dam phase-III to begin soon". Pajhwok Afghan News. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ "Islamic Emirate Reacts to Remarks of Iranian President". TOLOnews. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Kamal Khan Water Dam entangled in challenges from Neighbors". Ariana News. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ Rasmussen, Sune Engel (22 March 2017). "Dam project promises water – but also conflict – for dusty Afghan border lands". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Decades in making, Afghan mega dam opens on Iran border". Anadolu Agency. 24 March 2021.