HERAT CITY - In western Herat province, the country’s biggest copper mine’s extraction contract was awarded to a private company with a $21.3 million primary investment on Tuesday.
The documents of the mine were handed over by Mohammad Hamayon Qayumi, acting finance minister, Nargis Nehan, acting mines and petroleum minister and Abdul Qayum Rahimi, the Herat governor, to the company today.
Nargis Nehan told the contract-signing ceremony that the extraction company had invested $21.3 million to explore the copper mine.
“The first phase includes digging exploration wells and laboratory tests as well as technical training and capacity building for Afghan workers, this process would take three years,” she said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Qayum Rahimi, Herat governor, assured protection of the mine against any security threats.
“Our security forces have taken their measures because security of the area and workers is important,” he said.
“Extraction of the country’s biggest copper mine would create job opportunities for many and would improve our economy, we are trying to become self-sufficient in economic area,” he said.
Hamayon Qayumi, the acting finance minister, also said that the development and exploration of mines would reduce the country’s dependence on foreign aid.
Samiuddin Seddiqi, executive director of the company which received the contract, thanked the local and central governments for their cooperation and said the mine extraction would create jobs for many people. He said thousands of people in Herat would be hired in the process.
Herat copper mine known as Shaida Copper Mine is located between Adraskan and Guzargah districts of Herat province and is one of the country’s biggest copper mines.(Pajhwok)