Afghanistan publishes mining contracts in anti-graft fight
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - Afghanistan's government released on Sunday the details of scores of mining and energy contracts, including a major Chinese deal, in an effort to counter rampant corruption and bribery of officials worrying resource investors and donors alike.
As the government finalises new laws designed to attract more foreign mining investment, officials made public 210 previously awarded contracts, including one signed in 2011 with China National Petroleum Corp to develop three oil and gas blocks in the Amu Darya basin.
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Chinese and Indian companies are already scrambling to access to Afghanistan's estimated $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 high-tech manufacturing.
Chinese firms are leading the race, with China Metallurgical Group (MCC) and Jiangxi Copper winning a 2007 deal to exploit the giant $3 billion Aynak copper mine southeast of the capital Kabul.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/14/uk-afghanistan-mines-idUKBRE89D0AL20121014
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)war ever really about anything other than making the country safe for global resource exploitation?
Archae
(46,354 posts)Originally it was to kick the Taliban out, since they wouldn't stop supporting Osama and Al-Qaeda.
Bush and Cheney of course botched the whole thing, when they diverted needed resources to Iraq for Bush's "Mission Accomplished."
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts).
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)krkaufman
(13,438 posts)We'll never know the truth, and definitely will never know what might have been, but contemporary reporting indicated the Taliban might have been willing to give up bin Laden.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/oct/14/afghanistan.terrorism5
littlemissmartypants
(22,819 posts)Since I found out about Mes Aynak, thanks to Cali, I have made it my mission to inform others about its fate... If any one is so inclined please sign the petition at change.org and invite all you know to do the same. When Cali and I decided to try to do our part the petition was at 1,301 signatures today it is at 14,487 supporters but 35,513 more are needed. So far, NO environmental impact plan and NO mining plan has been made public. There has been NO discussion of variable mining technologies that might allow for portions of the site to be saved. Local residents and the Afghan population have NOT been informed of the costs and significant risks of this endeavor.
An atmosphere of secrecy prevails and destruction is scheduled to begin in just a few weeks, this December. An archaeological site with artifacts dating back to the Bronze age including hundreds of manuscripts is scheduled to be destroyed. We may not save Mes Aynak but we have already made a difference by increasing awareness. I thank you deeply for the post and the help. LMSP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014256523
http://www.change.org/petitions/president-hamid-karzai-prevent-destruction-of-ancient-site-of-mes-aynak-the-environmental-damage-3