Listen to this article Chinese Firm Reportedly Offers $10 Billion To Taliban In Exchange For Lithium Deposits Access
Chinese Company Gochin Offers $10 Billion for Afghan Lithium Deposits
The Taliban’s Ministry of Mine and Petroleum announced on Thursday that Chinese company Gochin has expressed interest in investing $10 billion in Afghanistan’s lithium deposits.Moreover the Minister for Mine and Petroleum, Shahabuddin Delawar, met with representatives from Gochin in Kabul to discuss the proposed investment.
Potential Job Creation and Infrastructure Improvements
The ministry stated that Gochin’s investment would create approximately 120,000 direct jobs and one million indirect jobs in Afghanistan.Furthermore as part of the investment, Gochin has also pledged to repair the Salang Pass within seven months, carve an additional tunnel, and process the mined lithium inside Afghanistan.
China and the Taliban: Strengthening Economic Ties
Since the Taliban regained power, China has been increasing its economic ties with the group.Also Chinese companies have offered investments in Afghanistan, and in January 2023, Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co (CAPEIC) signed a $540 million deal to extract oil from northern Afghanistan’s Amu Darya basin.
Chinese Companies Eye Afghanistan’s Lithium Deposits
According to Bloomberg, Chinese mining companies have long been interested in gaining access to Afghanistan’s vast lithium deposits, which are estimated to be worth $1 trillion. If Gochin’s investment comes to fruition, it could provide a significant boost to Afghanistan’s economy, as well as to China’s access to crucial resources.
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