Oil Extraction Begins at Five Wells in Jawzjan Province

Experimental crude oil extraction has commenced at five newly activated wells in the Zomorudsay area of Jawzjan province’s Amu Darya basin. The project is situated in the Zomorudsay area, also referred to in some reports as Zmarotsai, within the Amu Darya basin. Project officials report that initial daily production stands at approximately 500 cubic meters. Once all 12 drilled wells in the field become fully operational, output is projected to reach 1,200 tons per day.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum confirmed that drilling and extraction operations are being managed entirely by Afghan engineers without foreign technical assistance. Senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and ministers overseeing economic and energy portfolios, attended the launch ceremony. Authorities characterized the project as a milestone for national energy self-sufficiency and broader economic development, emphasizing its potential to stabilize local fuel markets.

Engineers noted that initial exploration in the basin dates back to 1980, but recent efforts have prioritized domestic technical capacity. Local residents and provincial officials highlighted the initiative’s role in creating employment opportunities and improving household economic conditions in the region. Management officials stated that scaling operations will continue as additional wells are integrated into the production network, aligning with broader efforts to develop the country’s natural resources using local expertise.