The Afghanistan government will likely finalize an agreement with preferred bidder/bidders for the country's massive Hajigak iron ore deposit by early 2012, Mining Weekly reported citing a US adviser to the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines.
The Afghanistan Ministry of Mines restarted the process to sell Hajigak, an estimated 1.8 billion mt deposit located 130 km west of the capital city Kabul, in September, after abandoning a previous attempt at the start of the year because of market conditions and weak interest.
Expressions of interest in the Hajigak deposit are due by January 13, 2011, after which the Ministry of Mines will evaluate them and compile a short list, and ultimately choose a preferred bidder or a number of preferred bidders for different blocks at the deposit.