In a press conference held at the Government Media and Information Center, officials from the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum delivered a comprehensive report on the ministry’s activities over the past year.
Key achievements include the survey of 647 mining areas in 28 provinces, the digitalization of geological maps at scales of 2000, 5000, 10000, 25000, and 50000, and the creation of employment opportunities.
According to officials, 80 small-scale mining contracts were signed with domestic investors, while 10 such contracts were canceled.
The ministry currently manages 167 active small-scale mining contracts with an estimated value of AFN 10 billion, which has generated thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities.
In the last year, the ministry issued 52 mineral processing licenses to applicants. A legal framework for the extraction and processing of precious stones has also been established, contributing to the prevention of illegal mining and smuggling activities over the past three years.
Officials highlighted that approximately 1,700 emerald mining sites were surveyed and identified in Panjshir province, and 575 licenses were issued for their legal extraction. This has resulted in the creation of 15,000 jobs.
Last year, around 78,000 carats of emeralds, valued at approximately $5.5 million, were sold to domestic and international investors through open bidding processes.
Over the past year, the ministry has signed large-scale mining contracts for 13 projects in the provinces of Herat, Takhar, Ghor, Parwan, Kabul, Baghlan, Faryab, and Nangarhar, creating thousands of new jobs.
Currently, 12 major mining projects are underway in Ghor, Badakhshan, Panjshir, Kandahar, Ghazni, Logar, Jawzjan, Kunduz, and Faryab provinces. In addition, preparations are being made for the commencement of several other key projects in Ghor, Badghis, Maidan Wardak, Herat, Parwan, Bamyan, Kapisa, and Nangarhar.
A 14-square-kilometer salt mine contract in the Andkhoy district of Faryab, with a total value of $24 million over 15 years, as well as a rock salt mine contract in Takhar worth approximately AFN 500 million, have been awarded to domestic companies.
Officials reported that oil extraction continues in 21 sites within the Qashqari, Angot, and Aq Darya regions, yielding around 1,300 tons of crude oil per day. Approximately 3,000 individuals are employed in these oil fields, both directly and indirectly.
Furthermore, the ministry signed a contract with a Turkish company for the drilling of wells No. 33 and No. 35 in the Yatim Taq gas field of Jawzjan province, aimed at the development of gas resources.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has drafted the Mining Law, the Hydrocarbons Law, and the Land Acquisition Law for the TAPI project. These have been submitted to the relevant authorities for review and ratification. Furthermore, work is underway on 41 procedural frameworks, 15 of which have been finalized, 4 are in progress, and 22 are planned.
Last year, the ministry signed eight MoUs with domestic and international organizations to enhance operational efficiency.
According to the ministry, priorities for the current year include mineral surveys, attracting further investments, announcing tenders for both small- and large-scale mining projects, finalizing legislative frameworks, facilitating the implementation of major national infrastructure projects, and the development of efficient systems. #
