Taliban administration and Iran discuss Afghanistan’s oil and gas supply
The Taliban administration has said officials from the group and Iran’s oil ministry have discussed supplying Afghanistan’s oil and gas needs, technical training and joint cooperation in exploration.
The General Directorate of State-Owned Companies under the Taliban administration said in a statement on X that Mullah Ahmad Jan Bilal, the head of the body, met with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad during his visit to Iran. According to the body, Mohammad Naser Rahimi, the chief executive of the state-owned oil and gas company, also attended the meeting.
According to the Taliban administration, the two sides held comprehensive discussions on supplying Afghanistan’s required oil and gas, providing professional and technical training in the sector, and joint cooperation in exploration.
The body also said Bilal and his accompanying delegation visited the research centre of Iran’s oil ministry and a number of oil refineries in Tehran, where they were briefed on the activities and technical and professional capacities of these centres.
According to the Taliban administration, the Iranian side expressed readiness for broad cooperation, necessary coordination and the implementation of joint programmes in the areas under discussion. The administration added that the two sides also appointed joint technical teams to advance coordination and other necessary work.
Afghanistan meets a large part of its fuel needs through imports, and Iran is one of the neighbouring countries that has trade ties with Afghanistan in the energy sector.
