KABUL, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum on Wednesday concluded a 275 million U.S. dollars agreement with a domestic firm, Azizi Group, for the exploration and extraction of natural gas in northern Jawzjan province.
At the signing ceremony, Minister of Mines and Petroleum Mullah Hedayatullah Badri highlighted the project's substantial socio-economic impact, noting that it is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs during implementation.
The 30-year contract covers an area of over 3,000 square kilometers in the Jungal Kalan region across the Amu Darya basin. Once operational, the venture is projected to support the generation of 1,000 MW of electricity, Badri said.
The Afghan government has advanced a series of agreements with domestic and international companies to develop Afghanistan's mineral, oil and gas resources, seeking to unlock the country's natural wealth, enhance energy security and foster economic growth. ■
