With China commencing their copper mine project in Afghanistan, Chinese engineers and the Taliban government are starting to mine the world’s second-largest copper deposit. The inauguration event took place on July 24 at Mes Aynak, about 40 kilometers southeast of Kabul. Taliban officials, Chinese businessmen, and diplomats attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the start of road construction leading to the mining site.
A $3 Billion Deal and 16 Years of Delay
A $3 billion deal signed in 2008 granted the state-owned China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) a 30-year mining concession. However, the project was delayed for 16 years due to combat between NATO-led troops and Taliban insurgents. Since the Taliban took power in 2021 and the withdrawal of foreign troops, the now cash-strapped Taliban-installed government is eager to capitalize on Afghanistan’s extensive mineral resources.
Strengthening Ties Between Beijing and Kabul
“The time wasted in the implementation of the project should be recuperated with speedy work,” stated Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar during the ceremony. Taliban officials indicated that copper extraction by MCC could begin in about two years, while Chinese diplomats lauded the event as a sign of strengthening ties between Beijing and Kabul.
“The economic and trade relations between the two countries are becoming increasingly close,” noted China’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing. The Taliban, faced with reconstructing a war-torn country, have also struggled with Western sanctions and international isolation, which have cut off financial support. China has been an exception, pledging deeper cooperation shortly after the Taliban took control of Kabul, with a particular focus on exploiting Afghanistan’s rich mineral resources.
Mes Aynak’s Vast Copper Reserves
Mes Aynak is especially attractive to Chinese firms, containing an estimated 11.5 million tons of copper ore, vital for electronic components and increasingly valuable due to its use in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers. According to a Brookings Institute report, Afghanistan holds approximately 2.3 billion metric tons of iron ore and 1.4 million metric tons of rare-earth minerals. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the country possesses $1 trillion in untapped minerals, including iron, gold, and lithium, which is crucial for rechargeable batteries and other technologies.
Economic Potential and Security Concerns
Amir Mohammad Musazai, a retired professor from the Department of Geology and Mines at Kabul Polytechnic University, informed RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi that mining Mes Aynak could yield copper ore worth more than the $3 billion initially agreed upon, as nearby areas also contain significant copper reserves not included in the original plans. The initiation of the Mes Aynak project signals progress for Chinese resource ventures in Afghanistan after decades of war-related delays.
However, security concerns remain a significant obstacle for more extensive projects, which often depend on Chinese engineers and staff. The July 24 ceremony was heavily guarded, with Taliban officials assuring the protection of personnel working on the mining project. Chinese workers in the region have increasingly become targets of attacks, including a suicide attack in March that killed five Chinese engineers in Pakistan and a 2021 bombing that killed 13 people, including nine Chinese workers, at a dam project. In Afghanistan, at least five Chinese nationals were injured when gunmen attacked a Kabul hotel frequented by Chinese businessmen in 2022.
