Investors from the CIS countries are interested in hydrocarbon production in Afghanistan, TOLOnews reports with reference to the country’s Ministry of Mining and Petroleum.

Department representative Humayun Afghan said that companies from Russia and Uzbekistan expressed their intentions to develop Afghan oil and gas fields. He also noted the growing interest in the sector in other Central Asian countries.

“We recently held several meetings with Uzbek companies. The ministry announced attraction of investments in several oil and gas fields, including near Herat,” Afghan said.

Among others, Eriell Group is interested in hydrocarbons, writes the Afghan publication Bakhtan News. Recently, Deputy Minister of Mining and Petroleum Zia-ur-Rahman al-Aryubi met with representatives of the company to discuss opportunities for cooperation.

The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment called attracting foreign investment into the local oil and gas sector critical. At the same time, it is important for foreign partners to ensure economic security, said member of the board of the chamber Khan Jan Alokozay.

Plans for exploration and production of oil, gas and other minerals became one of the main topics of discussion during the trip of the Uzbek delegation to Kabul. Then it was reported that Uzbekistan intended to purchase more than 1 million tons of coal from Afghanistan.

In addition, the Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom Makhkamov, announced the imminent arrival of equipment for the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway in the neighboring country. The issue of expanding the issuance of visas to Afghan citizens was also touched upon.