Ministry of Mines Introduces Reforms Program for Effective and Transparent Development of Mining Sector to Civil Community

(July 17, 2010) 
Cluster for Economic development and infrastructure, plan and outline for Sustainable development of Afghanistan minerals resource and condition for exploitation of mines  discussed between the leadership of the Ministry of Mines and Afghanistan Civil Community in a conference.

In this expository, descriptive and consultancy program Wahidullah Shahrani the Minister for Mines talked in detail about extractive industries, national program of transportation, national program for energy supply, national program for relief of civic life, national program for support of trade and development of small and medium enterprises, national program of electronic governance, and, related budgets for these programs.

While talking about five year work plan of Ministry of Mines, the Minister said: “we are bidding the Hajigak Iron Ore Deposit, Kashkari Oil Block, Shibarghan Gas Fields, exploitation and process of chromites around the Kabul and the Jabaluseraj Cement Plant; and sign a contract for construction of Heart Cement Plant.”

 Mr. Shahrani said: “We planned to complete the draft of policy for gemstones and semi-precious stones, marbles, constructive materials, oil and gas, and policy for rarity metals as well.”

We will establish a security regiment with personnel of 7000 police for Aynak Copper Deposit, the Minister said.

He said: “To build capacity, the National Institute for Mines is to be established in Kabul, and, previously established vocational School for Oil in Mazar-i-sharif will be reconstructed and modernized.”

To get ready for work in market of this sector, we will establish vocational school of oil and gas in Kunduz, vocational school for mines in Kandahar, and, first school for gemstones and semi-precious stones is to be established in Kabul next year, the Minister added.

Mr. Shahrani said: “to supervise the mining project in provinces,  the Ministry of Mines has already began to establish Mining Departments in some of provinces like Logar, Bamyan, Ningarhar, Badakhshan and Ghazni, and, we will build such offices in Kandahar, Kunduz, Khowst and Kunar next year.”

While talking about government income trough mining sector, the Minister said: “the annual government income from mining is around 20-25 million dollars, and by implementation of programs of the ministry, the range of this income will increase up to one billion dollars in five years, and according to the financial framework of the ministry, this income will increase up to 3.5 billion dollars in next 15 years.”

Programs and plans of the Ministry of Mines welcomed by the representatives of the Civil Community, and at the end, the Minister of Mines answered the questions of journalists.