Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has said the ministry has signed contracts for the extraction of 158 small mines in the past one year.
Speaking to participants and journalists in accountability program to the nation, Mawlavi Shahabuddin Delawar, Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum said various contracts have been signed for the extraction of 158 small mines in the country’s Kandahar, Zabul, Logar, Badghis, Takhar, Bamyan, Nangarhar, Ghazni, Herat, Maidan Wardak, Baghlan, Samangan, Balkh, Khost, Kabul, Parwan, Daikundi, Kapisa and Kunar provinces in the past one year.
“In consideration to economic situation of the country and planning of the ministry of mines and petroleum, contracts for extraction of small mines are signed with domestic investors and companies, while contracts for extraction of big mines are signed with big companies of foreign countries,” Mawlavi Delawar said, adding that the ministry has been able to absorb investment for extraction of mines in the country.
According to acting minister of mines and petroleum, the tender process of contracts for extraction of small mines are followed with full transparency and presence of representatives of companies and signed in accordance to the country’s interests.
Mawlavi Delawar said that work was underway on 11 major mining projects including some which were contracted by the previous government.
“These projects can take the country out of the economic crisis and some local and foreign investors are very interested in investing in them,” Delawar said, adding that the ministry is committed to counter corruption and will never allow corruption to permeate the mining sector in the country.
Pointing to increasing revenue of the ministry, acting minister of mines and petroleum said the ministry has collected 13.2 billion afghanis in revenue in the past year.
Talking about major mining projects in the country, Mawlavi Delawar said that the ministry was in discussions with the Chinese CNPCI company about the oil contract for the Qashqari region of the Amu Darya River basin.
He said that the Islamic Emirate (IEA) would receive a 20 percent share of the oil’s extraction and profit under the new agreement.
According to the ministry, the government will now get 20 percent of the revenue and if extraction does not begin within two months of the contract’s signing, the agreement will be canceled, and the oil will be processed in Afghanistan as the IEA won’t sell crude oil to other countries.
It is worth mentioning that based on figures of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP), in the past year the ministry has collected more than 13 billion afghani in revenue.
Amiri and Qarizada
Contracts for extraction of 158 small mines signed in past year, MoMP
