Following the recent unprecedented increase in price of petrol and gasoline in Afghanistan and increasing concerns of people over the high price of petrol in the country, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has signed a deal with an Iranian firm to purchase 350,000 tons of oil.
Afghanistan Ministry of Finance (MoF) says the new contract can help reduce the price of petrol and gasoline in the country.
The MoF in a statement said that a delegation from Afghanistan who was on its visit to Iran has entered into a contract with an Iranian firm to purchase 350,000 tons of oil from the neighboring country of Iran.
Among the delegation from Afghanistan were high-ranking officials from the IEA’s Finance Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Bank, Afghanistan Oil and Gas Corporation, and Afghanistan National Standard Authority.
In its travel to Iran, the delegation sought to discuss oil purchases, rates, and the transit of petroleum products to Afghanistan. The outcome was a contract with an Iranian company to buy 350,000 tons of oil
Both sides also agreed to establish a joint committee to propose ways to facilitate trade and transit of petroleum products, establish a gas pipeline for energy imports and build refineries in Afghanistan, said the ministry statement.
Discussions were held on quality, rates, transit, and facilities for traders. An agreement was made to form a joint committee on building out the gas pipeline and constructing joint refineries. The import deal is also struck in order to regulate and lower the price of fuel products in Afghanistan, said the Ministry. “It is hoped the price of petrol and gasoline will reduce in the country by purchasing and importing oil from the neighboring country,” the statement said. The IEA officials have always made effort to resolve people’s problems; therefore, they went to sign a contract with an Iranian firm to import oil to the country.
In recent days, the price of petrol and gasoline has unprecedentedly increased in Afghanistan as 1lit of petrol has jumped to nearly 100 afghani. Increasing price of petrol and gasoline has raised concerns of Afghans who are saying that they cannot afford to purchase oil.
“Signing a contract to import oil from Iran is a good step towards reduction of the price of oil in the country,” said Sayed Habib, a Kabul resident.
He said the price of petrol and gasoline has increased rapidly in recent days, which has created problems for the people.
The people are asking the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to monitor importing of oil from the neighboring countries and do not let traders to sell the imported oil expensive on the Afghanistan markets.
Meanwhile, based on information from the IEA, thousands of tons of gasoline have reached to Afghanistan’s Aqina and Torghundi ports, which can help reduce the price of gasoline in the country’s markets soon.
Shukria Kohistani
Afghanistan signs agreement to import oil from Iran
