Anadolu reported on Sunday that Taliban-led Afghanistan has started producing oil from wells in the Qashqari oil field in Sir Pul province.
“Priority will be given to the reconstruction of the mine using the employment of technical and non-technical staff and the proceeds of the head bridge,” JEE News Agency quoted Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Sheikh Shahabuddin Dilawar as saying.
His comments came during the inauguration of the wells, which was attended by several senior Taliban officials.
Describing the country’s mines as an important economic resource, Dilawar said that the people of Afghanistan should make full use of the resources of the mines.
Mullah Muhammad Nader Haqjo, acting governor of Sir Pul, said that the country is focusing on its development through internal resources. He also assured that the unfinished projects of the last 20 years would be finalized.
According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, there are 10 wells in Qashqari Basin and about 200 tons of oil is being extracted from these nine.
However, officials hope to increase the extraction capacity from 200 tonnes to more than 1,000 tonnes.
Last year, the Taliban signed an agreement with a Chinese company to extract oil from Sir Pul.
Additionally, the Afghan Taliban’s interim government and a Chinese firm also closed a 25-year deal to extract oil from the Amu River basin and develop oil reserves in the north.
The Chinese company will initially invest $150 million, which will be increased to $540 million over three years.
Afghanistan has over $1 trillion worth of untapped resources that attract foreign investors.
