Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines is looking for mining companies interested in the development of the country's Hajigak iron ore deposit and of other deposits in the surrounding areas. The mineral rights will be offered by means of a tender process expected to end in a mining contract. Expressions of interest must be delivered to the Ministry of Mines by the end of April.
According to the Afghanistan Geological Survey and the British Geological Survey, the Hajigak iron deposit has an estimated resource base of about 1.8 billion mt with an estimated ore grade of 62 percent iron. Iron ore resources occur in 16 ore bodies, as large as 5 km in length, 380 m wide and over 550 m deep, along a zone over 32 km in length. In addition, previous feasibility studies indicate that the ore bodies are amenable to open pit mining methods. There are also available coking coal resources in the region, which provide the possibility of creating an integrated iron and steel facility.
The deposit is located in the mountainous Bamiyan province, 130 km west of Kabul.
Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines says it is interested in companies willing to commit to the development of the Hajigak deposit on an accelerated basis, as the natural resources are a priority for the economic development of the country.