Kabul: An Afghan mining official says the untapped minerals in the war-torn country are worth at least USD 3 trillion — triple a US estimate.
Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani said on Thursday he`s going to Britian next week to discuss how to attract foreign investors to mine one of the world`s largest iron ore deposits in Bamiyan province. The relatively safe area is in the heart of the war-torn nation.
The US Department of Defense earlier said Afghanistan`s reserves of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and other prized minerals could be worth USD 1 trillion. Shahrani says that`s conservative.
The ministry has been working with international partners to assess Afghanistan`s mineral reserves and improve the expertise of Afghan geologists.
Bureau Report
