Saudi Energy Group Signs Major Oil and Gas Deals with Taliban-Run Afghanistan

A Saudi Arabian energy group has signed major agreements with Taliban-run Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to explore and develop the country's oil and gas resources.

The agreements, announced on Monday, cover hydrocarbon exploration and production in a vast area of western Afghanistan, as well as plans to study a proposed regional gas transmission pipeline.

The deals were signed in Kabul in a ceremony attended by former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad.

The agreements cover the Kushk and Tirpul contract area, spanning about 23,317 square kilometers, where Delta Energy Group plans to conduct geological and geophysical studies, seismic work, exploration drilling, and reservoir evaluations.

The company will also finance a study on using natural gas to support Herat Industrial Park, Herat city, and other approved areas for industrial activity and power generation.