Kabul Residents Decry Soaring Coal Prices Amid Ample Supply

• Kabul residents are frustrated by surging coal prices despite Afghanistan's significant local supply.
• Locals face financial hardship, struggling to afford coal which is a primary heating source.
• The Kabul Association of Firewood and Coal Sellers reports a price increase from 11,300 to 12,000 Afghanis per tonne in the past week.
• Causes cited include traders taking advantage, absence of government tariffs, and long transport routes into Kabul.
• A previous plan by the Northern Coal Company aimed to distribute coal at 6,800 Afghanis per tonne in colder regions, including Kabul.

Why It Matters: High coal prices in Kabul make heating unaffordable for residents.