Strongmen pocket 126m afs annually from Baghlan coalmine

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Pajhwok Afghan News findings show a number of strongmen in Nahrain district of Baghlan province have stopped a coalmine extraction company from operating and as a result 126 million afghanis go to personal pockets annually.

Coal from the mine located in Chinarak area of Nahrain district is illegally extracted since last two years.

Pajhwok findings show 15 trucks carried away coal illegally and unprofessionally extracted from the mine on a daily basis and all the money from the extraction goes to irresponsible armed men and local strongmen.

Some local people say each truck transporting the coal is also charged 10,000 afghanis as tax by local strongmen.

The contract for Chinarak Coalmine was given to Hashemi Group Company that spent millions of US dollars on preparing the mine for extraction, but local strongmen have stopped the company from working there and have been llegal extracting the coal since two years.

Strongmen extract Chinarak Coalmine:

A person working in the coalmine, Mohibullah, told Pajhwok that illegal extractions in the mine had increased since last two years.

“Illegal mining took place in the past too, but now local strongmen do not allow the legal contractor to work since last two years and they arbitrary extract it,” he said.

He said the contract of the coalmine was awarded to Hashemi Group Company in 2012 but local strongmen stopped the company from working after the passage of some time. Mohibullah said that 15 trucks were daily loaded with coal and the money it generated reached nearly a million afghanis.

“All this money goes to the pockets of powerful figures and government officials who in one way or another have shares in this mine,” he said.

Amir Mohammad, a local resident, said that several trucks shipped coal from the mine to Burka and Baghlan-i-Markazi district of Baghlan province every night.

“The coal is not transported from the mine during day because people can observe it, local people extract the mine and load vehicles during the day, these trucks move from the mine in the darkness of the night in company of powerful figures who pass these vehicles from road checkpoints and take money from each truck,” he said.

Government officials confirm illegal extractions in Chinarak Coalmine.

Haji Mohammad Azizi, chief of Nahrain district, said that the coalmine was illegally extracted by powerful men since the contracted company stopped working there.

This mine was earlier under some control of the government, but it came under full control of illegal armed men this year and one part is under the Taliban control, he added.

He said that the trucks loaded with the coal used routes in Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar provinces which were not under the government’s control.

Eng. Shah Mohammad Faizzad, Baghlan mines and petroleum director, confirmed illegal extractions in Chinarak Mine and said that he had shared the matter with the central government.

“I informed the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum about this issue, I told it to take serious action on the regard, I have sent them some 50 letters,” he said.

Pajhwok obtained copies of letters of the mines and petroleum department which are sent to different government organs.

A few months ago, the department has sent a letter to the governor’s house of Baghlan province and asked it to prevent illegal extractions in Chinarak Coalmine.

The department also sent a similar letter to Baghlan police headquarters.

The Baghlan Mining Department in an official letter dated July 03, 2020 to the MoMP wrote that Hashami Group has stopped excavation in the Chinarak site from the past one year and that paved the way for illegal excavation. The Governor Office and Police Headquarters had been informed about the development.

Baghlan Mining Department Head Faiz Zad confirmed to Pajhwok that the mining contract with Hashami group was singed against 1,150 afs per ton.

He stressed the government should provide suitable condition for Hashami group to carry out excavation and to return his loan.

On the other hand, MoMP Spokesperson AzizullahGharawal, said that the contracting company had stopped mining before informing the ministry.

“We lost the reservoir because the company did not inform us about its stopping work on the site,” he said.

He acknowledged illegal mining was underway in Chinarak site and the money went to private pockets instead of government treasury.

Without going into the detail, Gharawal said some steps had been taken to stop illegal mining in the site.

Contract holding company:

Zabihullah, Admin and Finance head of Hashami Group, said they had invested five million afghanis in Chinarak mine.

He said: “Unauthorized armed men attacked our convoys, they looted our equipment but security officials did not protect us from their threat therefore mining was stopped in the site.”

He shared letters with Pajhwok written to some government institutions from their side regarding security threats they faced.

He said Hashami Group signed the contract in which 1,150 was offered to the government against one ton of coal for ten years.

“If there was no security issues, we could excavate 110,000 tonnes of coal in one year,” he said.

He said if the government provided them the opportunity they were ready to begin excavation work again.

Assistant Baghlan Governor ZabihullahEhsas told Pajhwok Afghan News the government took steps to ensure the protection of natural reservoirs.

He said a working team would soon start work to stop illegal mining in the Chinarak coalmine site.

Police spokesman Ahmad JavidBasharat said illegal mining was underway in the Nahrain district coalmine but no one could openly transfer the coal.

“We don’t have special force to protect natural reservoirs and police tried their best to stop illegal mining. Police often stop vehicles carrying coal,” he said.

Outcome:

According to available documents, illegal mining in Chinarak has been underway through powerful individuals, the contract between government and Hashami Group if implemented would earn 126,500,000 afs to the government treasury. The amount is currently going into private pockets.

It is pertinent to mention that besides this Baghlan mining site, illegal digging of other mines in other parts of the country is underway unabated.

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