21 large-scale mines explored at 415b afghanis cost

KABUL (Pajhwok): Exploration, extraction and processing work was initiated at 21 large-scale mines at a cost of 415 billion afghanis since last three years.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs office in a video clip on X handle said that according to preliminary surveys, Afghanistan sits on natural resources worth about three trillion US dollars.

It said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has prioritized investment to professionally extract and process in the mineral riches.

It added exploration and extraction work has been launched on 21 large-scale mines at a cost of 415b afs over the past three years.

Mines given on contracts are located in Herat, Ghor, Takhar, Baghlan, Parwan, Kandahar and Kabul provinces. These mines include iron, lead and zinc, gold, ruby, chromite, cement and coal.

The contracts for exploration, extraction and processing of these mines have been signed with reliable domestic and foreign companies through open bidding, the economic office explained.

Tens of thousands of people have been directly and indirectly employed in the mines.

Geological and geophysical studies of other large-scale mines have been completed and work to award contracts is underway.

kk/ma