KABUL (PAN): Taliban militants have warned foreign companies against signing agreements with the Afghan government for the exploitation of mines in the country.
The warning comes amid reports the Afghan mineral wealth is around 1-3 trillion US dollars. Mines minister Waheedullah Shahrani is in UK for a road-show to attract investors to invest in Afghanistan's huge natural energy and mineral resources including iron, copper, coal, gold, oil, gas and lithium which have enormous potential for economic development.
KABUL (PAN): President Hamid Karzai, launching a sales pitch for his country's rich mineral resources, on Friday said he was concerned about a looming battle over the untapped mineral wealth.
Karzai, who is visiting Japan until Sunday, said Afghanistan's major donors should be prioritised in exploiting his war-torn country's mineral resources and called for major aid donor Japan to invest in mines.
KABUL (PAN): National and international mining firms would be invited to open up a huge iron deposit, the Hajigak iron ore mine, one of the biggest in the world, the mines minister said on Saturday.
KHOST CITY (PAN): Authorities have failed to prevent the smuggling of precious stones from chromite mines in southeastern Khost province, an official has admitted.
Eng. Laiq, the director of the mining department, said smuggling from mines in Tanai district to Pakistans port city of Karachi and China had been going on for several years.
A private security company had been employed, with 300 guards, but had not been able to stop the smuggling, he said.
KABUL (PAN): Mines minister on Monday rejected claims about extraction of uranium ore from the deposits in southern Helmand province by British forces as false and unfounded.
Mohammad Ibrahim Adil made these remarks while announcing his next year's developing plans at the Lower House of the Parliament.
Saddique Zada Nili, an MP from Dai Kundi province in Monday's session told the house the British troops were extracting uranium ore from the deposits in Khanasheen district.
KABUL (PAN): Canada on Sunday assured Afghan government for exploring the mineral wealth of Afghanistan and helping in the geological study of the country.
Canadian foreign minister in a meeting with President Hamid Karzai pledged that his country could help in extraction (leasing) of mines in and in geological studies.
A press statement from the Presidential Palace said the Canadian FM David Emerson talked with Karzai late Saturday about Canadas role in reconstruction of Afghanistan.
KABUL, September 1, 2005 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Ministry of Mines and Industries Thursday announced leasing out two big mines of copper and iron through a bidding to be joined by private companies and contractors in the next two months.
Ahmad Shah Karim Uloomi, spokesman for the ministry, said bids received from different companies would be jointly scrutinized by the Finance and Mines ministries and the contract would be awarded on the basis of highest offer.
