Taliban administration outlines plan to expand oil refineries to cut import dependence
The Taliban administration has announced plans to expand oil refineries in a bid to reduce the country’s dependence on imports, according to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
The ministry said 14 oil refineries are operating in the country, most of them in Balkh province. It added that domestic fuel production meets only 5% to 7% of Afghanistan’s annual demand for about 3.5 million tonnes of petroleum products, with more than 90% of fuel imported from abroad.
A spokesman for the ministry said modern refineries meeting global standards require new technology, greater investment and cooperation from the private sector.
This heavy reliance on fuel imports remains a major challenge for Afghanistan’s energy sector, with negative economic and security consequences. By prioritising the development of standard refineries, the Taliban-run Ministry of Mines and Petroleum is seeking to increase the share of domestic production, but the success of these plans depends on investment and technology transfer.
The construction of new refineries comes at a time when Afghanistan’s economic and energy infrastructure is fragile, and securing a stable fuel supply is considered one of the main concerns of the public and business community in the country.
