KABUL, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed agreements with Russia's TNG company for supervision and consultancy services in the Amu Darya oil basin and for the construction of a flexible production facility at the Zamrad Sai block, the ministry announced on Monday.
Under the contracts, about 2.8 million U.S. dollars will be allocated to one-year supervision and consultancy services across the Amu Darya basin. An additional 11 million dollars will fund the design and installation of the flexible production facility at the Zamrad Sai block, the ministry said in a statement.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mullah Hedayatullah Badri, minister of mines and petroleum, emphasized that the ministry is committed to managing and extracting the country's natural resources in a professional, transparent and efficient manner, aimed at boosting government revenues and generating employment opportunities for Afghan citizens.
Construction of the facility is projected to take eight months. Upon completion, it will be capable of processing 2,000 tons of oil per day, according to the statement.
The Amu Darya oil basin, which spans the northern provinces of Sari Pul, Jawzjan and Faryab, is one of the country's most important natural resources. ■