Over the past three years, five major contracts for the extraction and production of cement have been signed with domestic and international companies.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has announced that the total value of these contracts—signed with Turkish, Qatari, Chinese, and several local companies—is approximately 768 million Afghanis.
Homayoun Afghan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, stated: “These five projects include the cement production project in Jabal al-Saraj, as well as cement projects in Kandahar, Herat, Jawzjan, and Logar provinces. The total investment in these projects amounts to 768 million afghani.”
Experts believe that increased investment in cement production is crucial for Afghanistan’s self-sufficiency in this sector.
Ahmad Firdaws Behgozin, an economic analyst, said: “If we can produce cement domestically, the most important benefit is meeting our national needs. The more we can produce raw materials within the country, the more effective we will be in boosting economic growth and job creation.”
Another economic analyst, Qutbuddin Yaqubi, said: “If we invest in domestic cement production, it will save the significant costs currently spent on imports. This investment can lead to the establishment of factories, which in turn will create job opportunities for the people.”
Previously, a large portion of Afghanistan’s cement needs were met through imports from Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Pakistani cement is still widely sold in Afghan markets.
