KABUL (Pajhwok): China’s state-owned enterprise MCC practically started construction work on a 25-kilomter road to the Mes Aynak copper mine in central Logar province today Wednesday.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP), the 25-km long and 30-meter wide road was being constructed by MCC and will take one year to complete.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar called Mes Aynak an essential project for Afghans and the caretaker government.
He told a ceremony in this regard there was an obstacle to eliminating toxic substances in the processing part of Mes Aynak contract with Chinese firm, the problem has been addressed now and domestic materials were being used to eliminate toxic substances.
The deputy premier directed Da Afghanistan Bank to cooperate with contracting firm in transferring the money for the project. He also assured of complete security to all domestic and international companies.
Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hidayatullah Badri said the country’s economy will boost with completion of the Mes Aynak project.
He said the contract for the project was inked with Chinese firm in the previous government, but practically work on the scheme was started after Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) takeover.
Meanwhile, Wang, director of the Chinese firm, linked the delay in the work with security problems in the previous government.
He announced extracting copper from the mine will be launched soon.
Logar governor Sheikh Zia Rahman also assured complete security.
At the same time, Chinese Ambassador in Kabul Zhao Xing also expressed satisfaction over the launch of the project and added they were striving to expand economic ties between Kabul and Beijing.
He called Mes Aynak project an important part of the joint cooperation between Afghanistan and China and both countries hoped that the project will be completed successfully.
MoMP two days ago announced that practical work on extracting copper from Mes copper mine will be commenced this ongoing week.
The contract for mining copper at Mes Aynak had been signed during the administration of ex-president Hamid Karzai in 2007.
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