Turkey, Afghanistan to cooperate in energy, mining

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Turkey and Afghanistan on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) concerning cooperation in energy and mineral resources, the first of its kind Afghanistan has signed with another country in the field of mining.

The agreement was signed in Ankara by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız and Afghan Minister of Mines Wanidullah Shahrani. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Yıldız said the MoU aims to train Afghan officials in energy legislation and that the two countries would establish a working group on energy to seek opportunities for cooperation between the two nations.

Turkish and Afghan officials also discussed what kind of contribution Turkey could make regarding the vast mineral reserves in Afghanistan. “A structure that will enable private sector engagement in the vast mineral riches of Afghanistan will be built,” Yıldız said.

Shahrani said the Afghan government was willing to take advantage of Turkey’s experience in the management of resources, adding that the agreement would pave the way for fresh Turkish investment in his country. Shahrani said the MoU covered both hydrocarbon reserves and mineral reserves.

“There are five major fields of hydrocarbon reserves in Afghanistan. Exploration activity was completed in two of the fields, and a total of 5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves and 3.5 billion barrels of crude oil have been discovered,” he said. “We will soon start a bidding process for hydrocarbon fields. I would like to invite Turkish firms to join this process,” he added.

Turkey, Afghanistan to cooperate in energy, mining

This memorandum was signed in 2011...In 2012:

02 Dec 2012

Turkey's state-owned energy company TPAO secured a contract worth $215 million with Kuwaiti and Afghan partners to explore for oil in Afghanistan, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Friday.

Turkish energy officials told Reuters that TPAO's investment in the Afghan project would amount to $64.5 million. Work would be conducted in two separate fields, they said. Also involved in the consortium were Kuwait Energy, Dragon Oil and the Afghan Ghazanfer group. No further details were available.

Energy companies are exploring new frontiers in pursuit of fresh reserves as they exhaust existing fields and Afghanistan, after decades of conflict, remains little explored.

Yildiz also told reporters said there was no plan for a price hike in natural gas and electricty in December.

Afghanistan: TPAO, Dragon Oil and Kuwait Energy win Afghan deal

Today;

Energy minister meets Afghan minister of mines

02 March 2013 15:18 (Last updated 02 March 2013 15:23)

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz met with Afghanistan's Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani as part of his visit in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

KABUL

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz on Saturday met with Afghanistan's Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani as part of his visit in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Speaking to reporters before the bilateral meeting, Yildiz said Turkey and Afghanistan had historical ties of friendship, adding that his country was ready to improve cooperation in mining.
"Let's extract Afghanistan's resources together and bring together technologies of the two countries. Unearthing Afghanistan's underground resources will help the Afghan nation maintain stability," Yildiz said.
Shahrani, the Afghan minister, said his country was willing to take advantage of know-how in Turkey in the mining industry, adding that the two countries had earlier agreed to commission Turkish companies explore oil and gas in Afghanistan.
Shahrani said a number of Turkish firms had won tenders to explore oil in Sheberghan in northern Afghanistan and Turkey's state-run oil company TPAO and the Afghan government had agreed to drill for oil on the Afghan-Tajik border.

Minister Yildiz Afghan vice president

Minister Taner Yildiz met with Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili in capital Kabul.

Speaking to reporters before the behind-closed-doors meeting, Khalili said Afghanistan attached "serious importance" to relations with Turkey, adding "Turkish nation has always stood side by side with Afghanistan."
"We are grateful for Turkey for the support it extended in all areas. We want to improve our ties between our two nations," Khalili said.

Energy minister meets Afghan minister of mines Anadolu Agency