KABUL: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a contract worth $20.045 million for the extraction of a salt mine located in the Namaksar area of Ghoryan District.
According to ministry spokesman Homayoun Afghan, the agreement was signed between Mines and Petroleum Minister Mullah Hedayatullah Badri and Red Gold Asia.
The contract has been awarded for a period of 15 years, with a royalty rate of 1,500 Afghanis per ton of extracted salt, said Afghan adding that the company is required to conduct its operations in accordance with Afghanistan’s mining laws and regulations.
Officials said that, in addition to royalty payments, the company has committed to investing $930,000 in community development and social service projects.
The project is also expected to create employment opportunities for approximately 100 people in the area.
The agreement is part of ongoing efforts to attract investment into Afghanistan’s mining sector and promote the development of the country’s natural resources.