Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed contracts totaling about $109.9 million for four gold mines across three provinces. According to sources, the projects cover Qala-e-Zal in Kunduz, Shul Dara and Warchi in Takhar's Chah Ab district, and Surkani in Khost's Shamal district.
Contract terms run five to 10 years, with the government's royalty and mining-interest share set between 30 and 60 percent. The Kunduz contract was awarded to a partnership including Subhan Momand Company and Azerbaijan's Reef Group LLC, while the Khost mine went to Javed Khan Niazi Mining and Processing Company.
Officials cast the mining push as part of wider efforts to expand domestic industry, exports and jobs, alongside recent steel and other industrial projects in the north.