At least 6 of 28 mines being extracted in Herat

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): At least six of 28 mines in western Herat province are currently being excavated in western Herat province, officials say.

Mines and Petroleum Director Maulvi Fazil Ahmad Munib Khamosh told Pajhwok Afghan News Herat was the economic hub of Afghanistan.

He said marble, iron, salt, gypsum and coal mines were the key the key natural reserves of the province, bordering Iran.

Khamosh added Herat had nine marble, six construction material, two coal, copper, salt and gypsum mines.

He added efforts were underway to pave the way for extractions from other mines as well. The official did not explain why some of the mines were not being exploited.

If these mines were extracted, the director claimed, 80 percent of Afghanistan’s economic problems would be addressed.

Over the last few months, Khamosh revealed, at least 77 million afghanis had been collected in revenue from the sector, where more than 1,000 people were currently working.

But experts, describing mines as the country’s wealth, say that they are a significant source of employment for people and could even prevents migration to foreign countries.

Economist Gulabuddin Haidari said the government should coordinate with the domestic private sector and purchase modern mining tools from foreign countries.

He believed Afghanistan’s economic crisis could be resolved if the government properly extracted and manage mines. This would lead Afghanistan to economic stability, he hoped.

Information from he Mines and Petroleum Department shows two marble mines in Chesht district are currently being developed by the Baradaran Adil Company based on a contract.

The coalmine in Karukh district is being extracted by two firms — Watan-i-Darakhshan and Nasir Omaid.

Gul Ahmad Hoshang, finance and administrative head of Watan-i-Darakhshan Company, said coal was mostly used by brick kilns, salons and industrial units in Herat and Kandahar provinces.

Nasir Omaid, head of the Nasir Omaid Company, said they extracted at least 25 tonnes of salt per year. The salt is processed in the industrial estate and sold in the Herat and some southern provinces.

Meanwhile, Herat residents caked for making the best use of the natural reserves the country is blessed with for its development.

Nazeer Ahmad Ghawsuddin and Mullah Afzal, both residents of Herat, urged the government to devise a basic plan for the extraction of mines to create employment opportunities for the people.

Under the previous government, insecurity, interference from some regional countries, lack of surveys and sub-standard extraction hindered the exploitation of many sites in Herat.

sa/mud

 

 

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