The Taliban-led Afghanistan has initiated the extraction of oil from the wells in the Qashqari oilfield in Sar-e-Pul province, as reported by Anadolu on Sunday. Acting Mines and Petroleum Minister Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar stated that priority will be given to the employment of technical and non-technical staff and the reconstruction of the mine using the revenues generated from Sar-e-Pul. The inauguration ceremony of the wells was attended by senior Taliban officials.
Harnessing Afghanistan’s Mines for Economic Growth
During the inauguration ceremony, Minister Delawar emphasized the significance of Afghanistan’s mines as an important economic source. He urged the people of Afghanistan to fully utilize the potential of these mines. Mullah Mohammad Nadar Haqjo, the acting governor of Sar-e-Pul, expressed the country’s commitment to development through internal resources and assured the completion of unfinished projects from the past two decades.
Increased Oil Extraction and Collaboration with Chinese Companies
Currently, there are 10 wells in the Qashqari basin, with approximately 200 tonnes of oil being extracted from nine of them, according to the Mines and Petroleum Ministry. However, officials have set a goal to enhance the extraction capacity from 200 tonnes to over 1,000 tonnes. Last year, the Taliban signed an agreement with a Chinese company for oil extraction in Sar-e-Pul. Additionally, the interim Afghan Taliban government and a Chinese firm finalized a 25-year deal for oil extraction from the Amu River basin and the development of an oil reserve in the northern region.
