Taliban signed seven mining contracts at a gathering in Kabul on Thursday. The contracts were signed with companies from Afghanistan, Turkey, China, Iran, and Britain.
The combined value of these contracts reaches $6.557 billion, as declared by Shahabuddin Dilawar, Taliban’s acting minister of mines. Dilawar also highlighted that these contracts encompass the extraction of resources such as gold, copper, lead, and iron.
The contracts’ durations range from three to 30 years, he said.
Dilawar said that the first agreement centers around a $310 million contract focused on gold extraction from a mine situated in the Chah Aab district of Takhar province. This lucrative contract, signed with a Chinese company, unfolds over a three-year span. The Taliban administration secures a substantial 65% share of the earnings from this venture, according to him.
The second contract entails copper extraction from an expansive 245 square kilometer mining resource located in Logar province, to the east of Kabul. With a contract value of $411 million, the Taliban secures a 12% share from this 30-year endeavor, underscoring a commitment to long-term cooperation, as explained by Dilawar.
The third agreement showcases collaboration with local enterprises Afghan Invest and Abeko, collectively valued at $75 million. With a 30-year horizon, these partnerships grant the Taliban government 20% share in the earnings, he said.
In the fourth contract, a consortium of stakeholders including Watan-e-Druskhshan, the National Development Company, and an Iranian firm converge for the extraction and processing of iron, forming a colossal $2.8 billion endeavor. Under this 30-year agreement, the Taliban-run National Development Company claims a 15% share, underscoring the complex dynamics at play.
The fifth pact maintains its focus on iron processing, bringing together Sahel-e-Sharq Miyana and a Turkish company for a project valued at $874 million. Over the course of 30 years, the Taliban administration stands to gain a 13% share, showcasing the strategic diversification of partnerships.
Continuing this trajectory, the sixth contract unites Afghanistan and British companies for iron processing valued at $272 million. According to Dilawar, the Taliban government secures a 13% share over a 30-year period from the contract.
Dilawar said the seventh agreement revolves around iron processing in collaboration with Afghanistan and Iranian companies, commanding a $1.17 billion valuation. Under this 30-year arrangement, the Taliban government solidifies a 13% share.
Dilawar added that the iron mining resource eoncompasses a 1,000 kilometers area in the western province.
Private company owners who attended the event called for further support from the Taliban government and more share in mining contracts.
