Indian consortium bids for #gold & copper deposits in #Afghanisatan

The 25 companies shortlisted to invest in new copper and gold deposits in Afghanistan include a consortium of Indian firms, according to an article published yesterday on Mining.com.

The Economic Times reports that four state-owned companies – SAIL, Nalco, Hindustan Copper and Mineral Exploration Corp –  joined two private companies, Monnet Ispat & Energy and Jindal Steel and Power, in making the cut.

41 bidders have been shortlisted to 25; the other companies are from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, UAE, Turkey and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has invited expressions of interest for gold and copper deposits in four provinces, which are expected by July of this year.

A 2007 US Geological Service survey pointed to $1 trillion in mineral deposits in Afghanistan, which could “fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself.”

We recently posted the top 10 reasons to invest in Afghanistan’s mining sector: whilst minerals in the country are relatively underexplored, Afghanistan is home to world-class mineral deposits and the Afghani government is committed to its country’s mining sector, with aggressive infrastructure development programs underway.  Click here to read the full blog post and to learn more.