The office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in a statement said that 415 billion afghani have been invested in the exploration, extraction, and processing of 21 major mines in Afghanistan.
These mines include gold, iron, ruby, chromite, cement, coal, lead, and zinc, most of which are located in the provinces of Ghor, Herat, Kabul, Takhar, Baghlan, Parwan, and Kandahar.
The office of the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs stressed that the Islamic Emirate prioritizes standardized investments in mining.
Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said: “For almost three years, the work on the exploration, extraction, and processing of 21 mines has been ongoing at a cost of about 415 billion afghani. These mines are located in Herat, Ghor, Kandahar, Takhar, Baghlan, Kabul, and Parwan provinces. The mines include gold, chromite, coal, lead and zinc, cement, and ruby.”
Meanwhile, some experts believe that the proper utilization of Afghanistan’s mines is crucial for the country’s economic growth and development, as well as for providing employment opportunities for its citizens. They emphasize the need for more facilities to be made available to investors.
“If systems for processing precious stones are installed in Afghanistan, they could play a role in improving the economy and reducing unemployment in the future,” Ismail Zadran, an economic analyst, told TOLOnews.
“To this end, more facilities must be provided. Firstly, there is the issue of security, which, thanks to God, is not a concern in Afghanistan. Secondly, international trade regulations must be established, as Afghanistan currently relies on international donors,” said Shams Rahman Ahmadzai, another economic analyst.
The statement from the office of the Economic deputy PM added that, based on preliminary assessments, Afghanistan has natural reserves worth three trillion dollars. Geological and geophysical studies on several other major mines have also been completed, and work is ongoing to allocate these mines to bidders.