The Taliban announced on Thursday the launch of the construction of Afghanistan’s second cement production plant in Jabal Saraj district of Parwan province during a ceremony held in the province. Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, said at the event that the plant would have the capacity to produce 5,000 tonnes of cement per day once completed.
The ceremony was held at the provincial royal palace in Parwan. Hanafi said the establishment of the plant could meet a significant portion of Afghanistan’s future demand for cement. He added that the project represents a step toward industrial development and the creation of employment opportunities for thousands of people.
The Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs also stated that automated systems would be used at the facility, adding that these technologies would enable the production of cement in line with international standards.
Hedayatullah Badri, the Taliban’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, said during the ceremony that contracts for cement production projects had so far been signed with nine companies and that these projects were currently at various stages of implementation. He said the launch of these plants would create employment opportunities for approximately 10,000 people.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Jan Bilal, head of the Taliban’s State-Owned Enterprises Directorate, said that once the second major Jabal Saraj cement plant becomes operational, Afghanistan’s reliance on imported cement is expected to decrease and more employment opportunities will be created.
The Taliban have not released details regarding the cost of constructing the plant, the timeline for completion, or the total value of the investment.
The Jabal Saraj Cement Plant was established in 1958 and was converted from a joint-stock company into a state-owned enterprise in 1972. Since then, the plant had operated under the supervision of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
During Afghanistan’s civil wars, the plant’s operations were severely affected. Production was halted during the Taliban’s first period in power in 1996, and much of its infrastructure and machinery was destroyed during the fighting. As a result, the plant remained inactive for nearly two decades.
The previous Afghan government began the rehabilitation process of the plant in 2016, and operations resumed after parts of its equipment were refurbished. According to available information, the plant’s production capacity after reconstruction reached approximately 70 tonnes per day in 2020.
On 12 October 2023, the Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum signed a 30-year contract for the expansion of the Jabal Saraj cement project with three Qatari companies. Shahabuddin Delawar, the Taliban’s then Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated at the time of signing that more than $220 million would be invested in the project.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
