MoI asked to ensure security for oil, gas fields

KABUL): The National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday asked the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to task a 300-member squad with maintaining security for oil and gas fields in the Amu River basin in northern Sar-i-Pul province.

Chaired by President Hamid Karzai, the meeting discussed a security request from state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation International (CNPCI) Chairman Jiang Jiemin.

At a meeting with Karzai in Beijing on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, the CNPCI chief sought security for the oil and gas fields in the country’s north.

Last year, CNPCI won the first oil deal in Afghanistan after signing a contract with the government on developing a small oil-field in the northern part of the energy-deficient landlocked country.

Under the agreement CNPCI will initially invest about $400 million in the oil exploration project that is expected to generate $7 billion in revenues for the war-torn nation.

The Karzai office said the NSC directed the interior ministry to task 300 personnel with the job and equip the force with necessary weapons. The ministry was directed to increase the number of forces to 450 over the next half of the year.

The meeting also discussed the overall security situation in the country, asking the ministry and National Directorate of Security (NDS) to protect mining projects in all parts of the country.

mm/ma/mud

Visits: 1