Construction of Andkhoy Salt Mine Road Begins in Faryab

Construction of a road from Faryab’s Dawlatabad district to the Andkhoy salt mine has begun at a cost of $5 million

Officials say the road, which is more than 14 kilometers long, will be completed and handed over for use within one and a half years.

Homayoun Afghan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, said: “This road is 14.2 kilometers long, and asphalt paving work will be completed to standard within one and a half years.”

Sohrab Osmani, a representative of the contracting company, said: “In addition to other economic and development facilities, this will speed up mining operations at the Andkhoy salt mine.”

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum stress that salt extraction in Afghanistan should be increased and the capacity of these mines expanded.

Matiullah Haqqani, advisor to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, said: “The Ministry of Mines has awarded this sedimentary salt mine under contract, and it is planned that sedimentary salt mines in Herat and Nimroz will also be contracted.”

On the other hand, local officials in Faryab assure that the government is making serious efforts to support traders and investors in the country.

Faryab Governor Abdul Ahad Fazli said: “Anyone who invests in Faryab, we cooperate with them, and our doors are always open. This is also a service to us.”

The Andkhoy salt mine is considered one of the country’s largest mines, from which nearly 200,000 tons of salt are extracted annually.

The mine was handed over two years ago to a private company for a period of 15 years at a cost of 24 million U.S. dollars.