Local company wins contract to sell 20,000 tons of zinc

KABUL (Pajhwok): A local company has won the contract to sell 20,000 tons of zinc worth 7.8 million dollars already extracted from deposits in Ganda Kotal area of central ​​Bamyan province.

Wakili Limited Company won the tender at a ceremony held today (Wednesday) at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, in which 31 domestic and foreign companies offered bids.

Addressing the ceremony, Acting Mines and Petroleum Minister Sheikh Shahabuddin Dilawar said today 20,000 tons of zinc was sold through the tender in Ganda Kotal area of ​​Yakawlang district in Bamyan

He said under the contract, each ton of zinc was valued at 390 dollars, with the total value of 20,000 tons reaching 7,800,000 dollars.

Dilawar hoped the contract would benefit businessmen, the government and the people and would create employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Mines and Petroleum spokesman Humayun Afghan said that 29 domestic and two foreign companies participated in the tender and an Afghan company named Wakil Limited was declared the winner.

He said the mineral had already been extracted. About 150,000 people are working in small and large mine projects and contracts awarded by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, he added.

He said since the Islamic Emirate’s return, 150 small-scale mines including nephrite, chromite, marble, zinc and copper had been given on contracts to local companies.

Afghan said during the same period, 30 large-scale mines were awarded to domestic and foreign companies, including iron, gold, copper, lead, zinc and cement.

On the other hand, Ahmad Wakili, the director of Wakili Limited Company, said that the bidding process went smoothly.

He said 150 people would work on the project and the mineral would be taken to Iran for processing.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum sold 60,000 tons of Kashkari crude oil worth more than 30 million dollars to a local company.

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