A recent study released by the U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Industry estimates that Afghanistan’s natural reserves have the potential to produce over 1.6 billion barrels of oil over 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the near term1. Furthermore, Afghanistan contains significant deposits of precious and semi‐precious stones, including emerald, jade, lapis lazuli, ruby, sapphire, alabaster, quartz and tourmaline.2 Given the likely magnitude of these reserves, companies with industry expertise may find investing in Afghanistan’s natural resources a highly attractive business venture. The U.S. Department of Commerce promotes trade and investment in Afghanistan by providing guidance and strategic direction to businesses pursuing investment opportunities. As such, this guide is intended to aid companies in ensuring compliance with the 2005 Minerals Law of Afghanistan, the primary source of legal guidance within the hydrocarbon and mineral industries.
