KABUL (Ariana News): Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Shehabuddin Delawar has said in a meeting with officials of a Chinese company that the export of raw minerals for processing abroad is no longer allowed.
He said the ministry will work with foreign mining companies as long as they also process the minerals in Afghanistan.
Delawar said this during a meeting with China’s state-owned company MCC Holoda, and Chinese officials from the company contracted to extract copper from Mes Aynak.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said in a statement that MCC Holoda is one of the largest mining and processing companies in China for copper, lead and zinc.
According to the statement, the company has expressed an interest in investing in copper, lead and zinc mines in Afghanistan.
Delawar welcomed their interest and said there are lead and zinc mines in Bamyan, Kandahar and Ghor provinces, and if the company agrees to process minerals inside Afghanistan, the ministry will cooperate with it.
Shehabuddin Delawar also discussed the Mes Aynak copper project and called for acceleration of work at the mine.