Taliban-run Ministry of Mines on Sunday signed mining contracts valued at $33.4 million with private companies.
According to a statement by the Taliban-run Ministry of Mines, the Jagdalak ruby mine in Kabul, covering an area of 6.895 square kilometers with an investment of $27.5 million, and the barite mine in Herat, covering an area of 5.75 square kilometers with an investment of approximately $5.99 million, have been contracted to Sahar Aryana Highland and Wahdat Niyazi Mining and Processing companies, respectively.
Shahabuddin Delawar, the Taliban’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that these contracts are for a duration of 15 years.
The statement added that the Taliban will receive a 44% share from the Jagdalak mine and a 50% share from the processed barite mine.
The commencement of these mining operations is expected to directly and indirectly create job opportunities for hundreds of families.
Less than three years after taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has ave called mining one of the pathways to the country’s self-sufficiency. This comes as poverty and unemployment in the country are on the rise. However, there has been criticism over the process by which the Taliban award mining contracts to companies.
