1b afs to be invested in development of Kunar mines

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) says five companies have won contracts for mining nephrite in Khas Kunar district of eastern Kunar province.

In a statement, the ministry said the bidding for the five nephrite mines in Khas Kunar district was conducted through a transparent process and five wining firms would invest one billion afghanis to develop the mines.

MoMP quoted acting minister Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar as saying the contracts were for five years and the winning firms would invest one billion afghanis.

He said about 2500 people would find work opportunity in the mines.

In this tender, Khawar Nangarhar Company bought one tonne of nephrite from the first area for 2.5 million afs, Lal Padsha Naveed Ahmadzai firm one tonne from the second area for one 1.5 million afs, Momand Bazan Company one tone for 2.5 million afs.

Hewad Vision company purchased one tonne for 850,000 afs and Royal Atayee Company one tonne nephrite in Kalawal area for 350,000 afghanis.

Hamyoon Afghan, MoMP spokesman, told Pajhwok about the contracts: “These mines are different from each other. Some have good quality nephrite while others have relatively poor. The good quality nephrite is provided at a high price and the relatively low quality at low price.”

Nephrite is a precious ornamental stone that can be found in dark green, yellow, brown, black, gray and white colors and this stone – which is found in Nangarhar, Kunar, Parwan, Maidan Wardak and Kapisa provinces – is used in carvings and beads.

sa/ma

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