Taliban eye Afghanistan’s mineral wealth for revenue boost

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In the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, a miner poured water on a jade block, which exposed the green stone, which is part of the pressure of Taliban authorities to benefit the country’s full mineral resources.

Considering the return of security, the Taliban government is hurrying local and foreign investors in court to exploit the country’s underground wealth and get an important series of income – though experts warn about the risk of cutting corners. Do

According to the US and the United Nations studies from the United States and the United Nations since 2013, Emerald, Ruby, Marble, Gold and Lithium: The resources buried in Afghanistan’s rocky land is a trillion dollars.

According to official data, although decades of war saved these reserves from widespread exploitation, the majority of the Taliban’s 2021 after a total of billions of dollars worth of billions of dollars with local companies, with about 200 200 contracts. Signed after returning to power.

“We want Afghanistan to be self -sufficient but there are obstacles,” the Ministry of Ministry spokesman Humayun Afghan told AFP.

“We have no experts, no infrastructure, no knowledge.”

He added that Taliban officials will “welcome anyone who wants to invest, especially those who are in mining experience”.

Many of these contracts are focused on mining search, a process that can take years and can produce very few consequences, while easily regulated extraction can leave environmental stains behind, experts cautioned Take

The American Geological Survey (USGS) has noted the preparations for coal, talak and chromite in 2021 and 2022, “increasing rapidly”.

Authorities are preferring resources that can lose prices before dealing with others, such as lithium, whose prices can still rise in global markets.

According to AFP review documents, the Ministry of Mines regularly publishes tenders for search and extraction plans, and sends lists of its embassies to apply to foreign companies.

The World Bank says the results are already visible: 6.9 % extension of mining and excavation increased the industrial sector by 2.6 % in 2023-2024.

But although the government has auctioned several mining contracts to meet its cash needs, many of these contracts have not yet begun operations, “he said in a December report –

For mining expert Javed Noorani, officials are tendering “10 times more than their ability to do things”.

‘Country is stable’

The Taliban fought against the two decades of insurgency against the US and NATO -backed Afghan government in Kabul, which seized power in a sharp military campaign in 2021 after withdrawing foreign forces in 2021.

Foreign investors had abandoned the country on a large scale, but security has improved and the country’s road network has opened.

Now most people are concerned about being associated with the “Islamic Emirates”, which is unacceptable internationally and under Western sanctions.

However, some countries that maintain diplomatic and economic relations with Kabul, such as Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Qatar, have occupied the opportunity, in which China led.

The Afghan said, “When investors meet us, they say that when they meet us, the county has been strengthened so they now want to invest,” the Afghan said, “said the Afghan, which estimates that 2021 From this sector, 150,000 jobs have been created.

Despite the improvement of stability in the mountainous country, Daesh’s contenders have been attacked by foreigners – including a Chinese mine worker who was killed in a trip to northern Tahir province in January.

China in the lead

Chinese government -owned company MCC is already operating in Messenga Copper Deposit, located the second largest, 40 km (25 miles) from Kabul, which, under the 2008 agreement, re -led the Taliban government. What was alive

Chinese companies have acquired at least three major mining projects, especially in gold and copper, Afghan said.

In a mountain -carved mine in Goshta in eastern Nangarh province, jade has been pulled to use in jewelry.

“The majority of our nefarit goes to China,” said Habibrhaman Kaul, co -owner of the mine.

Kaul is happy with his promoted business, he has never invested in mining before Taliban occupation.

Only 14 mining companies were operating under the previous government for information flexibility in the UK.

“It shows that a new set of companies dominates the mining sector in Afghanistan,” he said.

The government refused to disclose the tax data, but it is a profit by stating and collecting royalty in some companies.

Environmental risks

Sher Baz Comanzada, president of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines, said some investors ignore international sanctions, knowing that “they can make money”. In countries with strict rules and regulations, “you’ll spend billions to start ears”.

“At a place like Afghanistan, where there is little experience about mining and very little for mining, if any, this is an advantage for companies.” Environments.

He said it allows for more work, but “can cause environmental or economic loss”.

The real risk is in my waste, because only 1 % of the excavations have been removed.

The rest may include iron sulfide minerals that pollute the earth when it comes to contact with water.

The Ministry of Mines claims to follow the current legislation to ensure that the mines are “cleaned” after extracting the mines, without providing further details.

“Every dollar that you do not spend in safe tailings dam (consisting of waste) or water cleaning, is a profit,” said Chambers.

“But once again, it causes long -term costs.”

In Afghanistan, Commons acknowledged, “People are not taking care of long -term.”