No transparency in mining sector, claims MWA

KABUL (MWA) on Thursday expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the mining sector and the Afghan government’s failure in this regard.

A member of the MWA, Asad Zamarai, accused the government of incompetency while addressing a press conference in capital Kabul, saying corruption remained rampant in the extraction process of natural resources.

He said he could cite a few examples about the absence of transparency in the mining process.

He said there had been a huge difference in revenue the government received from eleven extraction companies in 1391 and 1392 solar years according to the fourth report of Afghanistan Extractive Industry Initiative.

Zamarai said the government had confirmed receiving different amounts of the revenue and the difference showed there had been no transparency in the income collection process.

He said the Afghan government’s request for membership of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative was not accepted due to a weak performance of the government.

“Weakness in enforcing law and in most cases a lack of proper measures for fighting corruption and arbitrary actions and corruption in the mining sector have concerned us. It seems the situation is going towards crisis,” Zamarai said.

He believed the Afghanistan mining sector could play a vital role in leading the country towards self-sufficiency if the government observed transparency in the sector.

Mohammad Afzal Sherzad, another MWA member, said the government was not committed to its pledges at the London and Brussels conferences.

Despite government leaders’ promises to decisively take measures for prevention of illegal extraction of mines, the illegal mining continued in 12 provinces, particularly in Badakhshan, Helmand and Nuristan involving by powerful individuals and militants, he said.

He said the government was reluctant to publish contracts, information about extractions and revenue and publishing names of contractors and company owners.

He said the government was not willing to provide information about bidding, create a transparent and a single account for revenue of all natural resources and evolving a just mechanism for resolving disputes and introducing the mines minister.

Despite efforts Pajhwok Afghan News could not establish contact with officials of the Ministry of Mines to seek their version of the story.

The mines minister resigned in March in protest over having limited authority to bring reforms to the ministry.

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