KABUL (PAN): The minister for mines said on Tuesday private companies would be allowed to extract iron ores from deposits in the central Bamyan province on the basis of a transparent bidding process.
Eng. Muhammad Ibrahim Adel told a press conference here that different zones had been explored for iron-ore extraction. Nine private companies including Indian, Chinese, British, Pakistani and two Afghan firms have evinced an interest in attending the bidding.
The minister said a commission had been tasked with vetting the documents provided by the private companies. An extraction licence will be granted to a firm with good credibility, high budget, satisfactory experience and professional staff.
Iron-ore reserves at the Hajigak Mine, divided into different categories, are estimated at more than two billion tonnes. Adel hoped the project would provide direct job opportunities to 15000 people and indirect to another 50,000.
He added income from the iron-ore mine would be more than the Ainak Copper extraction project in the central Logar province. The Ainak mine is one of world's largest mines.
The ministry of mines will invite bids for development of Qashqar fuel reserves in Sari-i-Pul province and for liquefied gas reserves in Bashekord and Jangal Kalan in the neighbouring Jawzjan province.
