A consortium of India metal corporations are getting ready to tender bids for
copper mines in Afghanistan. Indias largest aluminum producer, National Aluminum
Company (Nalco) and the countrys sole integrated copper producer, Hindustan
Copper Limited (HCL) are reportedly leading the consortium to bid for
development of the Ayank copper reserves in Logar province, 30km south-east of
Kabul. Part of the Ayank reserves had been awarded to The Metallurgical
Corporation of China in 2007, which will commence production in 2014. Another
India consortium Afghan Iron and Steel Consortium (Afisco) tendered a successful
bid last month to invest US$11 billion to develop the 1.8 billion ton Hajigak
iron-ore reserves in Afghanistan. This marked the highest direct foreign
investment in Afghanistan. The government looks set to roll out six more new
mining sites in the first quarter of 2012. These include three copper reserves
in Ayank, two in gold and one in lithium. "We are trying to get all details of
copper deposits in Afghanistan and will surely participate once expressions of
interests are floated. We have the skills in mining copper and Nalco has the
cash," HCL chairperson
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