Established through a public-private partnership between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Badakhshon Energy Company (BE), a subsidiary of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), BE is an energy utility company operating in the Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan. The Government of Afghanistan has handed over the operation of Badakhshan’s energy system to BE but will maintain ownership. BE’s goal is to bring clean, reliable and affordable electricity to every household in the Province and create a sustainable operation that will be handed back to the Government at the end of the 30-year partnership. Since 2007, AKFED has provided electricity to more than 50,000 people in Badakhshan – or 5% of the Province’s population – across four northern districts through its Tajikistan-based utility, Pamir Energy. In 2019, AKFED provided more than 50% of all electricity consumed in the Province. 

BE is an Afghan company owned by AKFED, registered in Afghanistan and has obtained all the necessary licenses to operate and provide energy services in the country. The Company is committed to the social and economic development of Badakhshan, and fostering the development of young, Afghan talent. BE has employed all the local staff from the Government energy company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) and will create around 2,000 permanent jobs as it expands services across the Province. BE is also running a scholarship program for Badakhshan students to study engineering at leading international, technical universities, who will then be given employment opportunities with the Company. BE is committed to boosting the local economy and will be working with local companies and contractors to implement construction projects. 

AKFED is a leader in bringing electricity to remote communities and has significant experience and expertise in rural energy solutions from Asia to Africa including Pamir Energy in Tajikistan; Bujagali Energy and the West Nile Rural Electrification Company in Uganda and Azito Energie in Cote d’Ivoire, serving a total population of just over 6.3 million. AKFED is the economic development arm of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies seeking to improve living conditions in regions across the developing world, with a focus on Asia and Africa.