Afghanistan is looking forward to exploring its mineral resources with the help of Indian investments. Wahidullah Shahrani, Minister of Mines for Afghanistan is also hoping that the road shows being held in New York and London will also attract new investments in Afghanistan.
He was speaking at the 10th International Mining & Machinery Exhibition organized by CII as he said that Afghanistan has $3 trillion worth of reserves under proven category. The worth of reserves under inferred category were still to be valued.
Indian companies like Ispat, Essar, the Tatas, Mittals and Vedanta were in talks with the Afghanistan government for possible mining exploration operations. Mr Shahrani was optimistic about Indian companies competing for the bidding process for multi billion dollar tenders for copper, iron ore and hydrocarbon reserves.
Coal India Chairman P. S. Bhattacharyya also agreed that coal demand was surging and that coal imports were a necessity as production was unable to keep pace. Coal India Ltd has recently floated a tender for an international coal off-take company. The process was being evaluated as of now.
Indian companies can look forward to a good break in mining and minerals from association with projects in Afghanistan.