Excavation from coal reserve in Paktika begins

SHARANA (Pajhwok): The excavation works of a coal mine in Sharan, the capital of southeastern Paktika province has started, an official said on Thursday.

Governor Mawlavi Abdullah Mukhtar told Pajhwok Afghan News that excavation work of a coalmine in the Spin Sak area has started today (Thursday).

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) awarded the contract of coal excavation to Qaisar Baba Mining and Industrial Company.

The interim government of Afghanistan strived to discover more mines and excavate them, Mukhtar Added.

Engineer Mohammadullah, the head of Qaisar Baba Mining and industrial Company told Pajhwok Afghan News that the company has allocated $1 million for the mine extraction works and hoped that thousands tons of coal will be extracted which will bring the government 3,000 afs income per each ton of coal and the local residents would be able to get work opportunities.

Initial information showed that the mine is 60 square kilometer wide with thousands tons of coal available in the site.

Ihsanullah, a resident of Sharana city told Pajhwok Afghan News that many people will find jobs with the extraction of mines. He asked the government to build coal refinery companies as well in the area and export the coal with the brand of Afghanistan.

He added: “It is very important to refine the coal here and export it under the brand of Afghanistan.”

This is the second coal mine which is open to extraction, a month ago another coal mine was also discovered in Sar Rawza area of the same province and a company has already begun the extraction works of that mine as well.

Aw/nh