Afghanistan's biggest cement plant Ghori Cement in northern Baghlan province is running at only 80 percent capacity because of a lack of electricity, officials said Monday.
Producing around 1200 tonnes of cement a day, Ghori company chief the plant could produce more but is setback by its electricity needs which cannot be met by the output at Ghori Breshna Dam.
"Afghanistan still needs more electricity - the plant needs 8MW. The plant produces 1200 tonnes of cement a day but this is 80 percent of the plant's capacity," Islamuddin Ahmadi said, adding that there are efforts underway to fix this.
"Another part of the plant needs reconstruction which we have decided to work on in few days," he said.
Ahmadi said the plant sends most of its produce over north Afghanistan, with major customers in Balkh, Baghlan, Kunduz, Badakshan, Takhar, Faryab and Sar-e-Pul provinces.