Taliban Renew Call for China to Start Mes Aynak Copper Project

DID Press: Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has renewed its call for China to begin commercial extraction at the Mes Aynak copper mine, a $2.9 billion project that has remained stalled nearly 18 years after the contract was signed.

According to the ministry, Deputy Minister Abdul Rahman Qanit raised the issue during a meeting with Wei Huaxiang, an official responsible for Asian affairs at China’s Foreign Ministry, stressing the strategic importance of the project for both countries.

Qanit said there were now “no obstacles” to the implementation of the project and urged China’s MCC consortium to fulfill its commitments.

Although the Chinese company resumed some preliminary work in August 2024, commercial extraction has yet to begin.

The Mes Aynak contract was signed in 2008 between Afghanistan’s former government and MCC, with an estimated value of $2.9 billion.

However, insecurity, contractual disputes and the discovery of significant archaeological remains at the site have delayed the project for years.

Despite rising global demand for copper, China has remained cautious about major investments in Afghanistan, with security concerns and political risks continuing to be cited as key factors behind the delay.