MAIMANA (Pajhwok Afghan News) – Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani (وحیدالله شهرانی) on Sunday said a major natural gas reserves had been found in the Andkhoi (اندخوی) district of northern Faryab (فاریاب) province.

Amu River is located in northern Faryab and Sar-i-Pul (سر پل) province of Afghanistan where the area is enriched with approximately 87 million barrels of oil. The oil extraction for Amu River was awarded to China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) which has already started its preliminary operation in the area. Around 5,000 barrels of oil will be extracted daily during the phase of extraction and will be further boosted to 45,000 barrels a day. In the meantime the bidding process for the extraction of Afghan-Tajik oil deposit and the interest bidders are due to present their tender document within the next four months.

Shahrani, who arrived in the district, said a 75-day survey that was recently carried out by the government at a cost of US $7 million (369.9 million afghanis), indicated the gas deposits.

The ministry has received the result of the finding that was sent to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) and India, showing that Andkhoi has the largest gas reserves in northern provinces.

Shahrani said the bidding process involving renowned international firms would be completed in nine months. The extraction license will be issued to the highest bidder.

Eng. Nazar Mohammad Rahimi (نظر محمد رحیمی), in charge of the survey for the Amu river gas field, said the research was conducted by Terasize Limited, – a Canadian company based in Dubai – in a 236 km² area situated a district which has a population of nearly 450,000 people. The extraction license will be issued to the highest bidder.