Taliban Administration Signs Talc Mining Deal in Nangarhar

The Taliban administration says its Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a contract with a private company to extract and process the third block of a talc mine in the Shinwari area of Spin Ghar district in eastern Nangarhar province.

According to the Taliban administration, the contract is worth more than $4.518 million and the mine covers an area of 6.7 square kilometres. Under the agreement, the contracting company must pay the Taliban administration a royalty of 1,320 Afghanis for every tonne of talc extracted.

The Taliban administration also said the company will be required to provide social services for local residents, but it gave no further details on the nature of these services or how they will be implemented.

Talc is among the minerals used in various industries. Spin Ghar district in Nangarhar province is considered one of the areas with mineral resources.