India bags mining rights for 3 Afghan mines

[Sher Malang]

New Delhi: In a strategically significant development, Afghanistan today awarded mining rights for three Hajigak blocks located at the central Bamyan province to an Indian consortium led by state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL).

"The Afghan Iron and Steel Consortium (AFISCO) which comprises SAIL, NMDC, Monnet Ispat & Energy, RINL, JSW Steel, Jindal Steel & Power, JSW Ispat has been awarded three blocks...," the Afgan Ministry of Mines announced.

The Hajigak resources contain an estimated 1.8 billion tonnes of iron ore.

"This is a historical moment in our economy, not just bringing huge investment, but also an important step in developing our vast mineral resources which is the key to the sustainability of economic growth in the country," Afgan Mines Minister Wahidullah Shahrani said in a statement.

The Afghan government had invited bids to award development rights for four mines in Hajigak earlier this year and the last date for submission of bids was September 4.

The fourth block has been given to a Canadian firm, Kilo Gold Company.

The Indian consortium had proposed setting up mines and a steel plant in the war-torn country.

"AIFSCO brings a tremendous array of expertise, technical, financial and physical resources; mining and steel production experience developed over more than 100 years in India and internationally," the statement said.

SAIL Chairman C S Verma said he is yet to receive an official intimation from the Afghan government. "The Hajigak Iron Ore deposits consist of four blocks - A, B, C and D. The estimated iron ore reserves is approximately 484, 930 and 357 million tonnes in A, B and C blocks respectively while D block has small reserves," he said.

Source: Steel Authority of India bags mining rights for 3 Afghan mines

 

[Abhishek_]

excellent development
this should bring much needed development and employment in the region

 

[Tangent]

.What's the plan ?
To set up steel plants in Afganistan - do Afganistan has coal or gas to sustain a steel plant ?or to buy ore and transfer somewhere else ..how..Charbahar ?? or sell them to Iran or pakistan?
Since so many companies ( Jindal & JSW are private companies) are involved, there has to be a plan.

But definitely, this will bring some momentum to the war ravaged economy ,locals will get some work and it society will benefit.

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

.What's the plan ?
To set up steel plants in Afganistan - do Afganistan has coal or gas to sustain a steel plant ?or to buy ore and transfer somewhere else ..how..Charbahar ?? or sell them to Iran or pakistan?
Since so many companies ( Jindal & JSW are private companies) are involved, there has to be a plan.

But definitely, this will bring some momentum to the war ravaged economy ,locals will get some work and it society will benefit.

Afghanistan has biggest reserves of untab wealth , what do you think the war is all about ......
Well once, long time ago a delegation of Taliban visited Washington to discus about the oil pipe line but discussions failed

 

[patna_ke_presley]

Nice to listen to that, it would be great for Afghanistan's domestic consumption. Hope that Chabahar-Hajigak rail line will be a reality soon.

 

[Ruag]

These plans face huge logistical and security hurdles.

Firstly, India cannot depend on NATO forces to guard its economic interests in Afghanistan. If India does plan to pursue such significant industrial projects, then it will have to deploy its own security personnel to fend-off Taliban and ISI.

Secondly, India cannot depend on Pakistan to transport products to India or elsewhere from Afghanistan. The only hope is the planned highway linking Afghanistan with Iran. India would require immense help from other Afghan neighboring countries, especially Iran.

 

[patna_ke_presley]

Afghanistan has biggest reserves of untab wealth , what do you think the war is all about ......
Well once, long time ago a delegation of Taliban visited Washington to discus about the oil pipe line but discussions failed

Before you will spit any venom on India, let me tell you India has 4th largest Iron Ore reserve in the world. It is just Indian FDI in Afghanistan.

This war is against evil alliance of Taliban and Al-Qaida.

---------- Post added at 11:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:36 PM ----------

These plans face huge logistical and security hurdles.

Firstly, India cannot depend on NATO forces to guard its economic interests in Afghanistan. If India does plan to pursue such significant industrial projects, then it will have to deploy its own security personnel to fend-off Taliban and ISI.

Secondly, India cannot depend on Pakistan to transport products to India or elsewhere from Afghanistan. The only hope is the planned highway linking Afghanistan with Iran. India would require immense help from other Afghan neighboring countries, especially Iran.

Highway is already there with completion of Zarang-Delaram section and India is already going to build 900km rail line connecting Chabahar to Hajigak and Iran is showing full support for that.

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

These plans face huge logistical and security hurdles.

Firstly, India cannot depend on NATO forces to guard its economic interests in Afghanistan. If India does plan to pursue such significant industrial projects, then it will have to deploy its own security personnel to fend-off Taliban and ISI.

Secondly, India cannot depend on Pakistan to transport products to India or elsewhere from Afghanistan. The only hope is the planned highway linking Afghanistan with Iran. India would require immense help from other Afghan neighboring countries, especially Iran.

I think India should use the road they build in Iran and don't take US pressure for using it

 

[Safriz]

well good luck with that...starting from pre history to recent history and present day...all world powers tried to tame the riches of afghanistan and all failed miserably.....

 

[Shabz Nist]

well good luck with that...starting from pre history to recent history and present day...all world powers tried to tame the riches of afghanistan and all failed miserably.....

We're not looking to "tame" anything. We are looking to obtain resources for our much needed growth and in the process bring investment, infrastructure , development and some sense of normalcy of life for the afghan people.

 

[IndoCarib]

well good luck with that...starting from pre history to recent history and present day...all world powers tried to tame the riches of afghanistan and all failed miserably.....

You mean these contracts have been awarded before ?

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

Before you will spit any venom on India, let me tell you India has 4th largest Iron Ore reserve in the world. It is just Indian FDI in Afghanistan.

This war is against evil alliance of Taliban and Al-Qaida.

---------- Post added at 11:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:36 PM ----------



Highway is already there with completion of Zarang-Delaram section and India is already going to build 900km rail line connecting Chabahar to Hajigak and Iran is showing full support for that.

My friend why would I spit any venom on India, Thanks to Indian Iron Ore in Gova China is building tanks and Gova is getting richer. I don't hate India its all who is in your interest on what or what not. example: if Taliban start jihad agaist China , US will be their biggest supporter , its all whats in your interest or not , religion is just a excuse.

 

[Safriz]

You mean these contracts have been awarded before ?

thats even worse.....do you think the contracts awarded by karzai government will be respected by all warring factions in afghanistan?
karzai means nothing.

 

[Sher Malang]

These plans face huge logistical and security hurdles.

Firstly, India cannot depend on NATO forces to guard its economic interests in Afghanistan. If India does plan to pursue such significant industrial projects, then it will have to deploy its own security personnel to fend-off Taliban and ISI.

Secondly, India cannot depend on Pakistan to transport products to India or elsewhere from Afghanistan. The only hope is the planned highway linking Afghanistan with Iran. India would require immense help from other Afghan neighboring countries, especially Iran.

I guess India already deployed it's own security personnel for it's projects in Afghanistan and without rail line to Iran it's production and export would be hell impossible for India via Pakistan thus the parliamentary talks have started on rail line from Hajigak to Charbahar port.

This rail line will not only help glowing this project but also cuts our full dependency on Pakistan and will further boost our good relations with Iran.

 

[slytherin]

thats even worse.....do you think the contracts awarded by karzai government will be respected by all warring factions in afghanistan?
karzai means nothing.

people always keep saying that, but karzai has remained in power till now, US is not a fool, if they are leaving before 2014, they will have a plan to make sure that afghanistan doesn't falls in the hands of taliban......