$50M Oil Refinery Inaugurated in Balkh to Provide Over 1,000 Jobs
An oil refinery with the capacity to process 600 tons of crude oil in 24 hours has started operations in Balkh province, with an investment of $50 million.
This refinery, inaugurated in the presence of local officials, investors, and businessmen, has created job opportunities for over 1,000 people.
Suhrab Samadi, the head of the oil refinery, said during the inauguration ceremony:
“This company was built on a 50,000 square meter area with an initial cost of $15 million and a total investment of $50 million over seven months.”
Mohammad Taher Roshanzada, the Deputy Head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines, stated: “They need the Islamic Emirate government to exempt them from taxes for at least two or three years so they can stand on their own feet.”
Local officials in Balkh said at the inauguration ceremony that the Islamic Emirate supports investments in the country. To this end, 200,000 acres of land have been allocated for industrial parks to support businessmen and investors, of which 20,000 acres are located in Balkh province.
Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, the Governor of Balkh, said: “Those who are abroad should return to their province. All facilities are available for them to invest.”
Ahmad Zia, Head of Investment Facilitation at the Administrative Office of the Prime Minister, said: “We are witnessing that in addition to major projects like Qosh Tepa, TAPI, Salang, and Wakhan, factories are being inaugurated daily in every province.”
Meanwhile, some workers have called the inauguration of this refinery and the creation of job opportunities beneficial, urging other investors to invest in the country to create employment opportunities.
“They should invest here [inside the country] so that employment is generated, and our fellow citizens have access to jobs,” said Shah Mohammad, a worker.
This refinery has been built on a 50,000 square meter area. The refinery officials have also called on the interim government to provide them with additional resources.
