The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says that the Sheberghan–Mazar gas pipeline project has reached its final stages.

According to Homayoun Afghan, the ministry’s spokesperson, final testing is currently underway. Upon completion, factories in Balkh and the city of Mazar will benefit from a steady supply of natural gas.

The project, which cost 6.9 million afghani, has a daily transmission capacity of approximately 1.5 million cubic meters of gas.

The spokesperson said: “Welding and pipeline installation work has been completed, and only anti-corrosion tests remain. We hope that the remaining work will also be completed during the coming year.”

Some economic experts emphasize the importance of implementing similar projects and facilitating conditions for both domestic and foreign investors.

Taj Mohammad Talash, an economic analyst, said: “These projects are very important and fundamental. We hope that machinery capable of processing petroleum materials within Afghanistan will be imported by the Islamic Emirate so that we can process our mineral resources domestically.”

Abdul Shakur Hadaewal, another economic expert, stated: “In Afghanistan, any country that wishes to invest and has the intent to do so will find the environment favorable—there is no doubt about that. The Islamic Emirate provides facilitation, and the people are very optimistic, as these initiatives can create jobs for the poor and be beneficial to them.”

According to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the 94.5-kilometer-long pipeline had already achieved 50% progress prior to the return of the Islamic Emirate to power.