Aynak Copper Deposit Exploitation on Track to Begin Operations in Two Years

May 27, 2010
The Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani visited the Aynak Copper Deposit to observe ongoing research activity and equipment installation.

 While visiting the Aynak copper deposit, Mr. Shahrani told MCC authorities there that the techno-economical research should be accelerated, and that according to the contract, the resulting report is to be completed in six months for presentation to the Ministry of Mines.

The main goal of the trip to Aynak was to assess the work progress thus far at the deposit.  The area of demined land is about three million square meters.  More the five thousand square meters of land has been drilled so far to determinate the potential capacity of deposit.

A 17 Km long security ring road also has been built, the work at the base of deposit has been completed, the building of the project headquarters is 70% competed, and more than 65 police posts have been established around the deposit.

According to the terms of the contract, it is expected that the assembly and installation of technical equipment will be completed in one year, while exploitation activities of the deposit will begin in two years.