Thursday, August 04, 2011 – Officials in Afghanistan Integrity Watch have expressed concerns over a possible use of power by political parties to take advantage of Hajigak iron ore in the country.
In a report issued by Afghanistan Integrity Watch said, political parties might use power to profiteer after the extraction of Hajigak iron ore, the biggest iron deposit in the country.
Meanwhile, officials in ministry of mines said there are enough preparations on the ground for proper utilisation of the mine.
The report further adds, around fifty villages are located near the Hajigak iron ore and the extraction of this mine would possibly destroy farming fields of some people and the area will also hit by drought.
According to a mining extraction monitor official, “there will be some social problems emerging in the future. Because when some companies move there and invest, then people should leave their places. And there could be environment problems too.”
In the meantime, officials in ministry of mines said, there are plans already to avoid such sort of problems and education facilities have also been considered for the dwellers around Hajigak mine.
Jawad Omar, Afghan Ministry of Mines spokesman said, “we are still working on Hajigak iron ore and the concerns that have been expressed in the report would be avoided.”
Officials in Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries also said Hajigak iron ore should be put out to tender transparently.
“International standards should not be pushed in our internal regulations, because it will make our investors reluctant”, Taufiq Dawari, director of policy department for chamber of commerce said.
Hajigak iron ore is one of the biggest iron deposits in the world. Afghan government would gain $300 million each year after the mine is ready to be utilised.
