Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Monitoring: The signing ceremony took place at the Government Media Center, attended by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Ismatullo Ergashev, Special Envoy of the President of Uzbekistan.

During the event, Mr. Ergashev highlighted the robust and amicable relations between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, emphasizing that the signing of this contract signifies a deepening of cooperation between the two nations. He further noted that this partnership would create numerous job opportunities for Afghan workers, underscoring the mutual benefits of this collaboration.

Additionally, Mr. Ergashev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to continuing its support for Afghanistan and expressed intentions to facilitate job opportunities for many Afghans within a shared market framework.

In conjunction with this, Mullah Hidayatullah Badri, Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, provided insights into the Tooti Gas Field Block, which spans an area of 7,000 square kilometers and is part of the Amu Darya Basin located in Jowzjan Province. He revealed that Ariel Group, in collaboration with its Afghan partner Kam Energy, is set to invest $100 million in the first year, with a total investment of $1 billion over the next ten years.

Moreover, Minister Badri stated that, under the terms of this agreement, the company would generate 100 megawatts of electricity from gas within the first two years, representing a significant advancement in enhancing electricity supply in the region.

Furthermore, the Ariel Group is expected to undertake a two-dimensional survey covering at least 1,500 square kilometers and a three-dimensional survey of 1,000 kilometers within the first three years. This comprehensive approach aims to uncover new gas resources and facilitate professional extraction practices.

It is essential to note that the initial year of this contract will serve as a trial period; should the company fail to fulfill its commitments within the first year, the contract will be subject to termination./Bakhtar News