Emphasis on expanding cooperation between Yazd and Afghanistan in the field of mining

During the meeting between the advisor to the minister of mines and petroleum of Afghanistan and some mining activists of Yazd, it was stated that there should be an emphasis on expanding cooperation between Yazd and Afghanistan in the mining sector.

The advisor to the minister of mines and petroleum of Afghanistan and the accompanying delegation met and discussed the issues related to the mining field with the secretary-general of the Yazd Chamber of Commerce and a group of mining activists from the province.

During this meeting, the secretary-general of the Yazd Chamber of Commerce, pointing out that Yazd province is an industrial and mining province, stated: “Yazd province is the second mining province and holds the first rank in the country in terms of the diversity of minerals.”

Mohammad Sepehr continued that recently steel production complexes have been established in the province and the required feedstock for them is decreasing. Regarding the richness of mines in Afghanistan, we are interested in cooperating with Afghanistan and joint investment in this field.”

Sepehr emphasized: “These meetings should be a source of good events and the beginning of creating a platform for greater fraternal relations between the two nations and bring about material and spiritual benefits.”

Mohammad Ali Feizpour, a researcher and faculty member of Yazd University, also said at the meeting: “My experience from traveling to Afghanistan showed that what we hear about this country and its realities are very different. In the field of mining, especially precious stones, Afghanistan is one of the paradises on earth, and there are grounds for greater communication and joint investment. As it is, some Iranian companies are currently active in Afghanistan in the mining sector.”

Zamani, the Advisor to the Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan, also expressed his pleasure with the creation of a favorable ground for communication between the two countries and said: “The reality of Afghanistan is very different from what we see in the media. Currently, complete security prevails in this country, and the ground is prepared for the activity of foreign investors. This country has untouched deposits of lead, zinc, lithium, etc. Also, this country is a paradise of gold and precious stones, including emeralds and rubies. 1500 mining contracts have been concluded in Afghanistan, with the Chinese having the most activity in this field, and the largest mines in Afghanistan are held by the Chinese. Among these, 40 contracts in large mines are in the exploration phase. The conditions for investment by Iranian friends, especially in gold mining, are very favorable.”

Zamani, emphasizing that Afghanistan is one of the countries rich in natural resources, said: “The challenge of working in the mining sector in Afghanistan is the lack of skilled human resources and modern geophysical equipment. The inappropriate pricing of Afghanistan’s precious stones is another problem in this industry.”

The Advisor to the Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan also stated: “Afghanistan currently does not have extensive dealings with the world and, as a result, looks to Iran and China to expand cooperation.”

Mohammad Hossein Najafi Yazdi, Advisor to the Board of Directors and Head of the Legal and Judicial Commission of the Yazd Province Mining House, pointed to some existing problems and emphasized: “Despite the high potential of Afghanistan in the mining sector, some infrastructural problems, including the lack of water, electricity, and roads, have hindered the development of this industry. However, it should be noted that Iran and Afghanistan share borders and language, and under the richness of the culture of both countries, we can have joint cooperation in the fields of science, research, exploration, and extraction, especially in the processing and completion chain; this important matter requires extensive communication between the two countries.”

Seyed Mohammad Abrishami, a mining industry activist and veteran in Yazd, also referred to the activities of the Chinese in Afghanistan and said: “Regarding the activities of the Chinese, it is important to note that the Central Bank of Afghanistan does not guarantee the capital of foreign investors, which is a major challenge, and the Chinese government itself has done this and guarantees the capital of Chinese investors in Afghanistan, which greatly reduces investment risk. It is possible to propose to the Afghan government to guarantee the capital of foreign investors.”

Abrishami also referred to the Yazd Gemstone Laboratory and stated: “This laboratory is equipped with European equipment and can help Afghan miners in the field of precious stones to sell them at a reasonable price in global markets by correctly identifying the precious stones.”