Taliban Signs $5.49 Million Contract for Herat Salt Mine Extraction
The Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced the signing of a $5.49 million contract for the extraction of salt from Block 4 of the Nakamsar Salt Mine in the Ghurian district of Herat province. The contract was signed with Abdul Hamid Faizi Mining and Processing Company and covers an area of 9.58 square kilometers for a duration of 15 years.
According to the published information, the contracted company is required to pay the Taliban administration a royalty of 1,500 Afghanis per ton of salt extracted and to carry out its activities in accordance with Afghanistan’s mining laws and regulations.
The Ministry also stated that the company has committed to investing $350,000 in local development projects and to provide direct and indirect employment for approximately 115 people. Further details on how the implementation of these commitments will be monitored have not been disclosed.
The Nakamsar Salt Mine is considered one of the important mines in western Afghanistan. Herat, due to its geographical location bordering Iran and Turkmenistan, is regarded as a province with high mineral and commercial potential.
In recent years, the Taliban administration has signed multiple contracts for extracting gold, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, chromite, marble, and precious stones. Concurrently with the fifth International Industry and Mining Exhibition in Kabul, they have once again called on both domestic and foreign investors to invest in this sector.
Following the significant reduction in international aid after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, officials from this administration have described the mining sector as a primary source of revenue and a cornerstone for economic development. However, several experts have repeatedly expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the awarding of contracts, the management of mining revenues, and the allocation of benefits to local communities, urging the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms.
