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Afghan oil refinery consortium launched in Balkh province
This refinery will be built in four phases, over one to five years.
An oil refinery consortium, comprising five local companies, has been established in Balkh province with an investment so far of $87 million.
Speaking at a press conference in Balkh, consortium officials said that they had joined forces to ensure oil extracted in the country is refined locally, which in turn creates job opportunities.
“This refinery has been established with an investment of $400 million, of which $87 million has already been invested and the remaining $313 million will be invested,” said Abdul Rashid Salaar, technical officer for the consortium.
“This refinery will be built in four phases, over one to five years,” he added.
Consortium members have appealed to the Islamic Emirate to cooperate with them and to support the mining sector in the country.
One member said 1,100 tons of crude oil was extracted daily in Afghanistan but that the consortium would soon have the capacity to refine 4,300 tons a day.
“This consortium is for the self-sufficiency of the country in the oil and gas sector, and for job opportunities,” said another consortium member.
Growing foreign interest in the sector
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum last week reported that the country’s lucrative oil sector is generating growing interest from a number of countries in the region including Iran, Turkey, Russia and Uzbekistan.
According to officials, companies in these countries have shown serious interest in investing in the extraction and refinement processes.
The ministry has however called on Afghan investors to also take advantage of opportunities in the sector.
Afghanistan’s Crude Oil Refinery Union in turn urged the Islamic Emirate to support local investors in the extraction process but also by establishing refineries that meet international standards.
Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) officials meanwhile called on the ministry to also focus on increasing the operational capacity of established oil extraction companies and in building refineries instead of focusing on attracting foreign investors.
Muhammad Younus Mohmand, Vice-Chairman of the ACCI, said: “Our wish is that the refineries that people invest in, in Afghanistan, should be supported.”
According to union officials, over $300 million has already been invested in the sector in the country, providing jobs to thousands of workers.
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Iran allegedly relocates aircraft to Pakistan and Afghanistan amid US strike fears: CBS Reports
The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, denied the presence of Iranian aircraft in Afghanistan in comments to CBS News.
Iran is reported to have moved several military and civilian aircraft to Pakistan and Afghanistan, reportedly to safeguard them from potential US airstrikes, according to CBS News citing unnamed informed sources.
The report claimed that multiple Iranian military aircraft were spotted at Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Base near Islamabad, including an RC-130 reconnaissance plane. Additionally, CBS News said Iran’s Mahan Air had transferred part of its civilian fleet to Kabul before the escalation of regional tensions, with aircraft later moved to Herat Airport amid clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
However, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, denied the presence of Iranian aircraft in Afghanistan in comments to CBS News. Pakistani officials also rejected claims that Iranian military planes were stationed at their airbases, describing the reports as inaccurate.
The situation underscores heightened regional security concerns as tensions continue to rise over potential US military action.
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UN warns hunger crisis in Afghanistan deepening, women and children most affected
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that persistent funding shortfalls have sharply reduced supplies of specialized nutritional food crucial for treating malnourished women and children.
The United Nations has issued a stark warning that hunger and food insecurity are worsening in Afghanistan, with women and children facing the most severe consequences amid ongoing economic and humanitarian challenges.
According to UN agencies, Afghanistan continues to struggle with overlapping crises, including economic collapse, widespread unemployment, and climate-related shocks that have devastated livelihoods across the country. Rising regional tensions have also driven up food prices, putting additional pressure on vulnerable households.
“The little food we can afford we give to our children, but that is not enough,” said Raqiba Ahmadi, a resident of Faizabad city in northeastern Afghanistan. She added that her youngest daughter is recovering from malnutrition while her husband remains unemployed.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that persistent funding shortfalls have sharply reduced supplies of specialized nutritional food crucial for treating malnourished women and children.
Millions of Afghans remain at risk of severe hunger, prompting humanitarian organizations to call for sustained international support to prevent the situation from worsening further.
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Afghan powerlifting team wins six medals at World Cup series in Belarus
A total of six Afghan athletes and one coach represented the country in the tournament, which featured competitors from ten nations.
The General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport of Afghanistan says Afghan powerlifting athletes secured six medals at the “Powerlifting World Cup Series 2026” held in Belarus.
According to the directorate, Afghan athletes won four gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal during the international competition.
Fawad Sherin Sokhan, Jabar Sherin Sokhan, Noor Ahmad Sakhi Zada, and Mirwais Rafi Zada each claimed gold medals, while Rohullah Khairandesh won silver and Hamidullah Hakimi earned bronze for Afghanistan.
A total of six Afghan athletes and one coach represented the country in the tournament, which featured competitors from ten nations.
The competition began on May 6 and concluded on May 10 in Belarus, showcasing strong performances from Afghan athletes on the international stage.
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