Only 4% of Afghanistan's Oil, Gas Rich Territory Being Exploited

Only about four percent of Afghanistan's territory rich with oil and natural gas is being exploited, according to Deputy Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Jawed Sadat.

"Afghanistan's natural gas and oil reserves lie over 270,000 square kilometers and so far contracts have been signed for only 10,316 kilometers, which constitutes four percent of the whole," Sadat said while addressing the first Inter-Ministerial Commission for Energy meeting on Wednesday, Kabul based Tolo News reported.

Meanwhile, Minister of Economy Abdul Sattar Murad, who serves as the head of the inter-ministerial commission, said there would be monthly meetings, bringing donors and the Afghan government together to ensure better coordination for implementation of new energy projects, Tolo News added.

"This was one of the best meetings ever held between the donors and government of Afghanistan to improve coordination and this could help us in implementing the projects effectively and this will also boost the development process," Minister Murad said.

Wednesday's meeting focused on current energy generating projects, the working process of energy projects, the gas project master plan and progress on TAPI.