RASC News Agency: The Minister of Energy and Water for the Taliban engaged in discussions with Mes Aynak Logar mining company officials regarding the provision of essential water and electricity for mining operations at the site. This conversation, held on Sunday, December 10th, involved the Chinese company sharing intricate details about their plans and projects. In response, Abdul Latif Mansour, the Minister of Energy for the Taliban, assured the Chinese company of his cooperation in the water and electricity supply sectors. He proposed the establishment of a joint committee, including representatives from various ministries of the Taliban and the Chinese company, to accelerate mining activities at Mes Aynak.
It is noteworthy that the Taliban has urged the Chinese state-owned company MCC, which was granted the Mes Aynak contract in 2007, to initiate the extraction process for this significant mine promptly. However, due to the unstable situation in Afghanistan and the presence of ancient artifacts in the region, the Chinese company has postponed the commencement of mining operations. Reports indicate that on April 1st, the Chinese company expressed its desire to renegotiate the Mes Aynak contract, suggesting a reduction in the tax and royalty rate of 19.5% to provide less financial compensation to the Taliban.
Despite these negotiations, it is crucial to emphasize that the Taliban, since assuming control of the country, has prioritized signing contracts with foreign countries for the extraction of Afghanistan’s mineral resources. They consistently stress the need for contracted companies to expedite the mining process.
