Taliban sign 25-year oil deal with Saudi company for Kashk-Tirpul field

The Taliban administration has announced that it has signed a contract with Saudi private company Delta International for the exploration and extraction of seven blocks in the Kashk-Tirpul oil field.

According to the information released, the agreement is for 25 years, with the first eight years dedicated to exploration.

The Taliban prime minister’s economic deputy said up to $200 million will be invested in the exploration phase of the project. The administration did not release further details on when practical work will begin or on the implementation terms of the contract.

According to the Taliban administration, the seven contracted blocks cover an area of 14,871 square kilometres. The oil field as a whole spans 23,000 square kilometres and is located in the provinces of Herat and Badghis.

The Kashk-Tirpul field is considered one of the oil sites in western Afghanistan, and Herat and Badghis provinces are located near the country’s western borders, areas whose natural resources have also drawn interest for exploration and extraction in recent years.