Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Posts tagged: Minerals

Minerals

Illicit miners yet to be prosecuted

AAN •

Pajhwok News Agency, 6 February 2014 The list of 1400 companies and individuals involved in the illegal extraction of mines that had been released a year ago by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has not arrived at the Attorney General Office (AGO) yet, reports the Kabul-based news agency. And it is shrinking: Integrity Watch says the initial […]

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Afghanistan publishes mining contracts in anti-graft fight

admin •

Reuters, 14 October 2012 As the Afghan government finalizes new laws designed to attract more foreign mining investment, it made public 210 previously awarded contracts in the fields of mining and energy.

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Doubt Cast on Afghan Mining

admin •

Wall Street Journal, 3 October 2012 According to this report, ‘researchers working for the U.S. military have concluded [in a draft report] that it could cost more than $54 billion to build and run a railway network across Afghanistan, a price [that] could make some large-scale mining economically unviable’. ‘Because of the daunting terrain between […]

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Afghan gold fever heats up


admin •

The Independent, 29 September 2012 An interesting story about a man who was called to ‘help build an Afghanistan economy on the foundations of trillions of dollars-worth of copper and gold buried beneath its war-torn surface’ by a US State Department official and ‘a Wellington College-educated former SAS commander who is now chief executive at […]

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Lack of Capacity and Capital: Is Afghanistan Under-Selling the Ainak Copper?

Gran Hewad •

Containing 240 million metric tons of ore at 2.3 per cent copper content, the Ainak mine is considered one of the largest deposits of this metal in the world. It is located in Muhammad Agha district of Logar province, about 30 kilometres south-east of the Afghan capital, and was contracted to a Chinese consortium in […]

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Latest Mining Discovery in Afghanistan: Information from EITI

admin •

Revenue Watch blog, 17 August 2012 No, no new mines discovered, but data from the first GoA reports to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative: ‘The report reveals a reality that contrasts with the headlines: anemic sector contribution to public revenues and government challenges in overseeing oil, gas and mining sector payment.’ And it transpired that […]

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Afghan Cabinet Raises Concern About Mining Legislation, to West’s Unease

admin •

Afghan Cabinet Raises Concern About Mining Legislation, to West’s Unease New York Times, 23 July 2012 A group of Afghan cabinet ministers and senior officials last week objected to the draft legislation as kowtowing to foreign mining interests, reports the Times. And Ashraf Ghani is quoted on a crucial point: ‘Will the advisers [who helped […]

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Ghori Cement Plant Faces Bankruptcy

admin •

TOLOnews, 12 May 2012 Afghanistan’s largest cement company based in Pul-e Khumri (Baghlan), that is fully Afghan-owned, is facing bankruptcy at its second cement plant if it cannot secure sufficient bank financing, the company’s officials said Saturday. McClatchy newspapers, in late 2010, that Ghori Cement Factory and Karkar coal mine in Baghlan had ‘become symbols […]

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The Many Owners of Ashab Baba: Land conflict at the Ainak copper mine

Obaid Ali • Thomas Ruttig •

So far, after the (re-)discovery of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth, interest has concentrated on the macro-level – how to access and to market it, who won the tenders (and why not American companies*) – or on the cultural heritage aspect, how the Buddhist relics found at the Ainak copper mine can be protected. Now, micro conflicts […]

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India plans ‘world’s most dangerous railroad’ from Afghanistan to Iran

admin •

Daily Telegraph, 2 November 2011 India is planning to build a railroad from Bamian’s Hajigak iron ore deposits to the Iranian port of Chahrbahar on the Arabian Sea in attempt to open a new trade route and reduce Kabul’s dependence on Pakistan. Delhi expects problems with the US, though, who might object to Iran’s role […]

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Hope Amid Chaos: Mineral Resources & Afghanistan’s Economic Future

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Muftah, 31 October 2011 Article by IWA’s Javed Noorani discusses the opportunities, risks and pitfalls surrounding the extraction of Afghanistan’s mineral resources.

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The Great Hindukush Gold Rush (2): Afghanistan is not Chad (yet?)

Thomas Ruttig •

There is plenty of evidence from all over the world that indicates that mineral wealth can easily turn into a curse – environmentally, socially, politically and even economically. It also can exacerbate conflict, instead of alleviating it. A particular example is the Central African country of Chad*, and it should warn both the Afghan government […]

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