The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says that talks are underway withChina’s MCC company over the start of the Logar Mes Aynak project, and thata Chinese delegation will arrive in Kabul by the end of this month.
According to the ministry spokesman, the Islamic Emirate has asked MCCChina to continue its work on the Mes Aynak Logar copper project based onthe previous contract.
“They will be physically in Kabul in March and will discuss the issue withthe Ministry of Mines and Petroleum,” said Esmatullah Borhan, spokesman ofthe Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
Construction of a railway from Torkham border to Hairatan Port, a thermalpower plant with a capacity of four hundred megawatts, the construction ofMes Aynak road, and copper processing inside Afghanistan are among thesignificant points in the Mes Aynak Logar mine contract with MCC China.
Meanwhile, local officials in Logar province say that all preparations havebeen made for the start of the Mes Aynak Logar copper project.
“China MCC is in contact with the officials of the Ministry of Mines andPetroleum and they have shown readiness. There are some issues that arebeing discussed and these issues will be resolved,” said Rafiullah Samim,director of information and culture in Logar province.
The Mes Aynak Logar Mine is located 30 km from Kabul province and has beenclosed for years.
Under the previous contract to extract copper from the mine, the Chinesecompany is required to pay the Afghan government $400 million a year.
According to economists, security challenges and the presence ofantiquities at Mes Aynak in Logar have delayed its extraction process foryears.
“We cannot rely on talks to advance the economic situation andmacro-projects. Macro-interests need macro-economic plans,” said ShakerYaqoobi, economist.
In 2008, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum signed the Mes Aynak Logarcopper mining contract with the Chinese company MCC, in which the Chinesecompany had to invest more than two and a half billion dollars in the firstphase of the project, and the extraction process would begin.
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