Canadians surveying Herat gas reserves

HERAT CITY (PAN): Canadian experts have launched a survey based on satellite images to assess gas reserves in northern parts of western Herat province, an official said on Wednesday.

The reserves were found in Kashk-i-Kohna, Rabat Sangi and Gulran districts, bordering Turkmenistan and Iran, the governor’s spokesman, Mohiuddin Noori, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said: “Canadian experts are conducting the survey along with their Afghan counterparts from the Ministry of Mines to determine the extent of the gas reserves in the region.”

A local official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the three-month survey was focused on identifying the extent of fuel reserves in Herat and Badghis provinces. 

A 12-member group of Canadians and six experts from the ministry would survey a 65-kilometre strip in accordance with the satellite images in Herat, he added.

After working for a month, he revealed, the Canadians left the area due to insecurity a week ago. They also shifted their equipment to a secure area in the province, he said. However, the experts would return to the site next week.

On Oct. 21, the Ministry of Mines said major natural gas reserves had been found in the Andkhoi district of northern Faryab province. A 75-day survey that was recently carried out by the government at a cost of $7 million (369.9 million afghanis) indicated the gas deposits.  

The bidding process involving renowned international firms will be completed in nine months and an extraction licence issued to the highest bidder.

Link: http://ow.ly/r5LhO