The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan announces plans to establish large and modern oil refineries in the country. This initiative aims to meet domestic needs and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. Currently, there are 14 active refineries in Afghanistan, most of which are located in Balkh province.
Investment and Refinery Capacity
The current refineries operate with an investment of nearly 260 million dollars, and their processing capacity varies between 500 to 800 tons of crude oil per day. However, according to the provided statistics, Afghanistan consumes nearly 3.5 million tons of petroleum products annually, of which only 5 to 7 percent is supplied from domestic sources. In other words, more than 90 percent of the country's petroleum needs are imported from abroad.
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Challenges and Future Needs
Homayoun Afghan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, emphasizes that the ministry is striving to create the conditions for establishing equipped and advanced refineries in the country. The goal of this program is to refine the materials obtained from crude oil to high standards and meet domestic petroleum needs. Despite the operation of 14 refineries, the country's demand for petroleum products remains high, indicating significant challenges in reducing dependence on imports.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum hopes that with new investments and infrastructure development, it can increase domestic production capacity and gradually reduce the country's reliance on imports. This will not only help improve the country's economic situation but also create new job opportunities for the people.
