Saudi Arabia’s Delta Energy International has signed a 25-year, $200 million oil and gas contract with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, launching exploration and extraction work in the country’s western Kushk-Tirpul basin.
The Afghan government said the initial investment would cover seven gas blocks in the Kushk area. The wider basin lies between Herat and Badghis provinces and covers about 22,000 square kilometres.
Delta said the broader programme could attract as much as $60 billion in potential investment over 10 years. It said this would depend on exploration results, sufficient reserves, technical and economic feasibility, financing, regulatory approvals and final investment decisions.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hidayatullah Badri described the agreement as a step towards greater energy self-sufficiency, particularly in gas.
Badri said, “With exploration and extraction, there is hope that Afghanistan will be able to meet its gas needs. Another positive point is that the contracted company is a highly reputable company.”
Delta International Chief Executive Officer Shaher Al-Taqi said the agreement reflected the company’s approach to partnership.
He said, “This is what genuine partnership between partners looks like, and I would like to reiterate that our policy is a ‘win-win’ policy.”
Former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, who attended the signing, said Afghanistan could also play a broader regional role.
He said, “Afghanistan can be a bridge connecting these two regions.”
Delta said it is studying a proposed 700-kilometre gas pipeline from Herat to near Spin Boldak in Kandahar. The company estimates the project could cost about $10 billion, subject to feasibility, financing and approvals.
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