Taliban Minerals Minister Visits Herat Cement Project Amid Calls for Transparency

The Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced that Mullah Hidayatullah Badri, the acting head of the ministry, visited the Herat province during which he inspected the progress of the local cement project.

According to the statement, Badri told the project officials that the completion of the Herat cement plant could bolster domestic production and create hundreds of job opportunities for the province’s residents—a matter of significant importance given the widespread unemployment.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum added that after the Taliban regained power, contracts for several large cement projects in a number of provinces have been signed. However, clear details regarding these contracts, the companies involved, and the current status of the projects have not been openly shared with the public.

Economic experts believe that while expanding cement industries is crucial for economic self-sufficiency, the lack of transparency, independent oversight, and protection of workers’ rights may undermine public trust in such projects—a challenge that requires serious accountability from the Taliban administration.