Ministry Signs $10.2 Million Contract for Salt Extraction in Herat
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has finalized a 15-year agreement for the commercial extraction of salt from a mining site in Herat province’s Ghurian district. The contract, representing a $10.2 million investment, authorizes operations at the third block of the designated salt deposit.
Deputy Minister Mawlawi Abdul Rahman Qanit signed the agreement on behalf of the ministry. According to the published terms, the selected contractor will remit a royalty of 1,500 Afghanis for every tonne of salt extracted. The ministry indicated that the project is projected to create approximately 125 employment opportunities in the region.
The agreement includes binding clauses regarding operational standards and community impact. The company is required to adhere to all applicable national regulations, implement environmental protection measures, and allocate dedicated funds for local social services. Officials emphasized that these provisions are intended to balance resource development with regional welfare.
Reporting on the agreement varied slightly in its identification of the contractor. One outlet named the firm as Obaid Ayoub Noori Limited, while another described it generally as a private company. Both sources corroborated the investment value, royalty structure, and the ministry’s stated objectives for the project. The deal reflects ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to regulate mineral extraction and integrate private investment into provincial resource development.
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Where reports agree
- Contract signed for the third block of a salt mine in Ghurian/Ghoryan district, Herat.
- Total investment amount is $10.2 million.
- Signed by MoMP Deputy Minister Mawlawi Abdul Rahman Qanit/Qant.
- Royalty rate of 1,500 AFN per tonne over a 15-year period.
- Expected to create ~125 jobs with mandatory environmental and social service commitments.
Where reports differ
- Pajhwok names the contracting company as 'Obaid Ayoub Noori Limited,' while RTA only refers to it as a 'private company.'
- Minor transliteration differences in the official's surname (Qanit vs. Qant) and district spelling (Ghurian vs. Ghoryan).
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