The contract for the extraction of 80 mines was signed with domestic investors in the past year/ 1,300 tons of petroleum products are extracted daily in the country

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: In continuation of the government's accountability programs to the people, this Saturday, Maulavi Hossamuddin Sabri, the administrative and financial deputy of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, announced the prevention of smuggling of minerals and valuables during the last one year and said: The procedure for legal extraction of precious stones has also been arranged.

 

He added that during the past year, this ministry has signed 8 cooperation agreements with domestic and foreign institutions in order to better regulate and advance affairs.

 

Meanwhile, Mufti Homayoun Afghan, the spokesman of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, announced the survey of 647 mining areas in 28 provinces and said: The geological maps of these areas have been digitized on the scale of 2,5,000, 10,000, 25,000 and 50,000. 

 

He announced the conclusion of 80 small-scale mining contracts with domestic investors and added that 10 small-scale mining contracts have also been canceled.

 

Mr. Afghan added that 167 small mining contracts worth about 10 billion Afghani are active. He also said that this ministry has issued 52 mineral processing licenses to applicant companies.

 

Mr. Afghan informed about the survey and stabilization of about 1,700 areas of emerald mine in Panjshir province and added: 575 permits have been issued for its legal extraction, which has created job opportunities for 15,000 people.

 

This official of the Ministry of Mines said: Last year, about 78 thousand carats of emerald worth about 5.5 million US dollars were sold to domestic and foreign investors through open bidding.

 

He announced the contract of 13 large-scale mines in Herat, Takhar, Ghor, Parwan, Kabul, Baghlan, Faryab and Nangarhar provinces and said that thousands of job opportunities have been created through this route.

 

Mr. Afghan stated that the contract for 14 square kilometers of salt mine in Andkhoi district of Faryab province was signed with a total value of 24 million dollars and added that the rock salt mine of Takhar province was also signed with domestic companies with a total value of 500 million afghanis.

 

Officials of the Ministry of Petroleum announced the extraction of 1,300 tons of petroleum products daily from Qashgari, Angut and Agh Darya areas and said that they are working directly and indirectly in this field with the number of 3,000 tons.

 

They also informed about the contract for the drilling of wells number 33 and 35, which was signed with a Turkish company for the purpose of developing gas resources in Yatim Taq area of ​​Jawzjan province.