How is Mirwais Azizi working to legitimize Taliban rule?
Author: Ahmad Saeedi, analyst on Afghan and regional affairs (Switzerland), especially for "Sangar"
Original article: تبلیغات برای امارت طالبان
Mirwais Azizi, head of the Azizi Group, has signed a contract with the Taliban Ministry of Water and Energy for the construction of power plants with a total capacity of 10,000 megawatts in Afghanistan.
First of all, I pray that this project is realized and does not remain just a promotional announcement.
If implemented, it would be a blessing for the Afghan people and a major achievement for the Taliban government.
However, in order to assess the feasibility of the project, I will begin my analysis with an introduction.
Introduction:
The contract for producing 10,000 megawatts of electricity with a $10 billion investment, signed between Azizi Group and the Taliban government, is one of the most ambitious energy projects in Afghan history.
But the key question is: Is this project realistically achievable within seven years, or is it merely symbolic PR?
To answer that, a thorough analysis is needed.
1 - Project Potential and Technical Challenges
10,000 megawatts is not the entire power generation capacity of Iran or Turkey, but for Afghanistan, it is a massive figure.
Currently, the country’s total internal generation does not exceed 1,000 megawatts.
Increasing that capacity tenfold in seven years is impossible without a complete energy infrastructure.
Building power plants (solar, gas, hydro) requires equipment, technology, specialists, and distribution networks — none of which currently exist in Afghanistan.
2 - Financial Difficulties and Banking Sanctions
Afghanistan’s Central Bank is under U.S. and EU sanctions.
No international bank provides credit to the Taliban; official transfers from abroad are not possible.
A $10 billion investment must be transparent and go through official banking channels — which is highly unlikely under the current conditions.
If funds are transferred through informal systems (like hawala), the risks of corruption, lack of transparency, and inefficiency increase.
3 - Lack of International Recognition of the Taliban
The Taliban government is not recognized by the international community; its agreements lack legal guarantees.
Investors are unsure if future governments will honor these contracts.
This hinders the involvement of technical partners, international insurers, and consultants.
4 - Lack of Distribution Infrastructure and Market
Generating power alone is not enough — it needs to be distributed nationwide.
In remote villages, there are no power lines or substations — several billion more would be needed for infrastructure.
The population is mostly poor; there is no solid, paying energy market.
5 - Security Challenges and Political Rivalries
The project would be carried out in regions that remain unstable, with ongoing conflicts among local warlords, criminal groups, or even factions within the Taliban itself.
Large energy facilities are often targets for extortion, threats, or sabotage.
In the absence of a professional national security force, the risks are immense.
6 - Promotional Nature of the Project
Mirwais Azizi has business experience, but a project of this scale, given current realities, looks more like a publicity stunt to legitimize the Taliban's rule.
In the past, there were similarly grand announcements (like the Kajaki Dam or CASA-1000), but many remained incomplete.
Conclusion: Is It Realistic?
No. As of now, the project is not feasible for the following reasons:
Sanctions on the banking system and lack of formal capital flows;
No international legitimacy of Taliban authority;
Lack of infrastructure for energy transmission;
Weak domestic market and payment systems;
Political instability and local conflicts;
No international partners for execution.
This is more of a political PR campaign than a real energy development plan.
Recommendations:
If this project is truly serious, it must:
Be implemented in phases (e.g., start with 100 megawatts);
Involve independent international experts and partners;
Establish a transparent financing, management, and security system;
Be executed under the supervision of international organizations.
Otherwise, it will remain a dream and a tool for political propaganda.
