Kabul publishes mining and energy contracts
Karzai government makes details of resources contracts public to convince investors and aid donors corruption is under control
The Afghan government has released details of scores of mining and energy contracts, including a major Chinese deal, in an effort to counter rampant corruption and bribery of officials that worries investors and donors.
As the government finalises laws designed to attract more foreign mining investment, officials on Sunday made public 210 previously awarded contracts, including one signed last year with China National Petroleum Corp to develop three oil and gas blocks in the Amu Darya basin.
"For the first time in the history of the country, we have been able to publish the details of the awarded contracts on the website of the Ministry of Mines," Mines Minister Wahidullah Shahrani said in Kabul.
Last month Shahrani said contracts would be published on the ministry's website and in newspapers, to safeguard delivery of US$16 billion in aid promised by foreign donors over four years and tied to stronger anti-graft measures.
Chinese and Indian companies are already scrambling to gain access to Afghanistan's estimated US$1 trillion worth of untapped mineral wealth. The country has large deposits of gold, copper, iron ore and oil, as well as lithium and rare earths used in hi-tech manufacturing.
Chinese firms are leading the race, with China Metallurgical Group (MCC) and Jiangxi Copper winning a 2007 deal to exploit the giant US$3 billion Aynak copper mine southeast of Kabul.
