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Afghanistan Pledges 'Transparency' in Minerals Contracts

     25 June 2010

Photo: AP

   Searching for Afghanistan's mineral wealth (FILE)

   Afghanistan's  mining  minister is vowing transparency in the awarding
   of  contracts  to  exploit  what  he  says  is the country's nearly $3
   trillion in untapped mineral wealth.
   Wahidullah  Shahrani  on Friday dismissed concerns about corruption in
   the  bidding  process.   He told a reporter in London new legislation
   will  required publication of information about all contracts that are
   awarded, in order to achieve "high standards of transparency."
   The  mining minister is in Britain seeking investors' bids for a share
   in  Afghanistan's  untapped  deposits of iron, lithium, gold and other
   minerals.    Shahrani   said   Afghanistan   could   be   economically
   self-sufficient within a decade if its mineral resources are exploited
   properly.
   Afghan  and  U.S.  officials  say the newfound wealth will benefit the
   Afghan people, but some warn it will take years to develop the mineral
   resources.  Challenges include a lack of infrastructure and security,
   with some of the deposits located in Taliban strongholds.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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