The acting Minister of Petroleum and Mines Shahabuddin Delawar speaking to the press at a contract-signing ceremony for the extraction and processing of 7 major mines said that there is complete transparency in the mining contracts, and that illegal mining and smuggling have been prevented.

The contract for seven mines worth more than $6.5 billion was signed on Thursday in the presence of the deputy PM for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and other officials of the Islamic Emirate.

The acting minister of Petroleum and Mines also said that gold mines in Takhar province, with an area of 12km  square kilometers will be handed over to the China-Afghanistan Company with Zarawar Afghanistan Private Company, and $310 million will be invested in it.

According to Delawar, the second block mine of Mes Aynak in Logar, with an area of 240 square kilometers, has been handed over to Turia, a private company—the company is expected to invest $411 million.

Delawar added that the first section of the Ghoryan iron mine in Herat province has been handed over to Watan Darakhshan Company, in which $2.8 billion will be invested.

The second block of the Goryan iron mine in Herat has been handed over to Sahil Middle East Mining and Logistics Company, Dara-e-Noor, an Afghan company, and Epcol, a Turkish company, in which $874 million will be invested.

The third block of the Ghoryan iron mine has been handed over to Shamsh, an Afghan company, with  GBM and AD Resources, British companies, in which $572 million will be invested.

The fourth block of the Ghoryan iron mine has been handed over to Bakhtar Steel Company, with Ehya Sepahan and Parsian Iranian companies—the companies will invest $1.17 billion.

Also, a lead mining contract in Tulak district of Ghor province has been handed over to 'Afghan Invest' company and Epcol a Turkish company. $537 million will be invested in the mine.

NOTICE: A previous version of this story cited "$573 million will be invested" in third block of Ghoryan iron mines but the correct number is $572 million.