China-based Gochin has approached the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum with a proposal to invest $10 billion in Afghanistan’s lithium mining sector.

The Chinese company suggested that if it is awarded the lithium mining contract, it will invest in several significant Afghan infrastructure projects, including tunnels, a power dam and highways, according to the Ministry’s press release.

Afghanistan’s Acting Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Shahabuddin Delawar, said that the ministry intends to award contracts for lithium and other mines in line with the country’s mining law.

Before the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August 2021, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the US Department of Defense were working to identify and confirm mineral resources in 24 areas of interest in the country.

In September 2011, USGS announced the results in the report: “Summaries of Important Areas for Mineral Investment and Production Opportunities of Nonfuel Minerals in Afghanistan.” Highlights of that report include an estimated 1 million metric tons of rare earth elements in the Khanneshin carbonatite area in Helmand Province. There are also substantial copper and cobalt deposits near Kabul, deposits of iron, tin, tungsten and lithium in central Afghanistan and copper and gold deposits in the southeast.

Source: Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum via Green Car Congress