All conditions have been facilitated for the resumption of extraction at the Mes-Aynak copper mine, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) said on Sunday.
The Afghan delegation that recently visited China held talks with the officials of the Metallurgical Corp of China (MoCC).
According to the Ministry of Mine and Petroleum, a delegation of the MCC is expected to visit Afghanistan soon.
“There were some initial problems. The Islamic Emirate has resolved the problems to the furthest extent,” said Esmatullah Burhan, a spokesman for the (MoMP).
The Islamic Emirate is also planning to construct a railway from Torkham crossing in Nangarhar to Hairatan port in Balkh as well as to form an electric company.
“The Chinese are seeking to reach an agreement to have increased benefits and to decrease the percentage being paid to Afghanistan annually,” said Torek Farhadi, an international relations analyst.
Economists believe that resumed operations at the Mes Aynak copper mine project will have a positive impact on the Afghan economy.
“It has been a long time since the contract with MCC company about the Mes-Aynak was signed because, previously, there were some legal and security issues which caused a delay in the implementation of the project,” said Sakhi Ahmad Payman, deputy head of the Chamber of Industry and Mines.
“This could help the Afghan government economically improve, and this project can help Afghanistan’s raw material production,” said Seyar Qureshi, an economist.
Mes Aynak is the largest copper mine in Afghanistan. Based on the agreement which was signed between the Afghan government and the MCC, China will extract 6.8 billion cubic meters of copper.
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