Afghanistan Plans to Establish Large, Modern Oil Refineries

DID Press: Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says it is planning to establish large, modern and well-equipped oil refineries to process domestic crude oil using advanced technology and produce higher-quality petroleum products.

The ministry said the proposed facilities would help refine locally produced crude oil in line with higher standards.

Currently, 14 crude oil refineries are operating in Afghanistan, with total investment estimated at nearly $260 million.

Most of the refineries are located in Balkh province, with each reportedly capable of processing between 500 and 800 tonnes of crude oil per day.

Homayoun Afghan, a spokesperson for the ministry, said the ministry was working to create the conditions needed to establish advanced refineries capable of producing petroleum products that meet higher quality standards.

According to available figures, Afghanistan consumes approximately 3.5 million tonnes of petroleum products annually. Domestic sources reportedly meet only 5 to 7 per cent of this demand, while more than 90 per cent of the country’s petroleum needs are supplied through imports.