Afghanistan has signed two contracts for natural gas and coal exploration and extraction as part of its plan to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Afghanistan has signed two contracts for the exploration and extraction of natural gas and coal resources as part of a wider programme to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity, according to businessman Mirwais Azizi.
The agreements were signed in Kabul between relevant institutions of the Afghan government and Azizi Mining and Petroleum Company. The projects cover the Jangal Kalan natural gas field in Shiberghan District of Jowzjan Province and the Pul-e Khumri coal mine in Baghlan Province.
Azizi announced the development in a social media post, saying he travelled to Kabul to attend the signing ceremony alongside senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy for Economic Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office.
He described the agreements as another important step towards implementing Afghanistan’s programme to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity.
The Jangal Kalan project involves the exploration and extraction of natural gas, while the Pul-e Khumri agreement concerns coal mining. Both resources are being considered in connection with efforts to expand domestic electricity generation.
Azizi said he was pleased to attend the ceremony and witness the signing of the contracts during a one-day visit to the Afghan capital.
Talks focus on gas, coal and electricity projects
During his visit, Azizi also met Baradar, along with several Cabinet ministers and independent directors. The discussions focused on electricity generation projects and the extraction of natural gas and coal for power production.
In his post, Azizi said the meetings provided an opportunity to discuss plans involving the country’s natural resources and their potential role in expanding electricity production.
The latest agreements form part of Afghanistan’s stated ambition to increase its electricity generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts. However, the announcement did not provide details of the investment involved, project timelines, expected production capacity or the schedule for beginning extraction.
The contracts were signed between government institutions and Azizi Mining and Petroleum Company, with the projects covering two mineral resource sites in different provinces.
The announcement did not specify when exploration or extraction activities would begin at either site.
