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Friday, March 14, 2025 18:33 GMT
Afghanistan’s ministry of mines and petroleum inked a contract, valued at over US$6.5 billion, with the winners of domestic and foreign companies including two Iranian companies, for extracting and processing mines in the country.The contract for seven mines worth more than US$6.5 billion was signed on Thursday in the presence of the deputy PM for economic affairs.Acting minister of petroleum and mines of the Taliban government Shahabuddin Delawar, speaking to the press at the contract-signing ceremony, said that there is complete transparency in the mining contracts, TOLO News reported.He also said that gold mines in Takhar province, with an area of 12km square kilometers will be handed over to the China-Afghanistan Company with Zarawar Afghanistan Private Company, and US$310 million will be invested in it.According to Delawar, the second block mine of Mes Aynak in Logar, with an area of 240 square kilometers, has been handed over to Turia, a private company—the company is expected to invest US$411 million.Delawar added that the first section of the Ghoryan iron mine in Herat province has been handed over to Watan Darakhshan Company, in which US$2.8 billion will be invested. The second block of the Goryan iron mine in Herat has been handed over to Sahil Middle East Mining and Logistics Company, Dara-e-Noor, an Afghan company, and Epcol, a Turkish company, in which US$874 million will be invested.The third block of the Ghoryan iron mine has been handed over to Shamsh, an Afghan company, with GBM and AD Resources, British companies, in which US$572 million will be invested. The fourth block of the Ghoryan iron mine has been handed over to Bakhtar Steel Company, with Ehya Sepahan and Parsian Iranian companies—the companies will invest US$1.17 billion. Also, a lead mining contract in Tulak district of Ghor province has been handed over to ‘Afghan Invest’ company and Epcol a Turkish company. US$537 million will be invested in the mine. - Kayhan