Afghanistan open to Russian investment in oil and gas sector - oil minister

KAZAN. Aug 26 (Interfax) - Afghanistan, a country home to sizeable hydrocarbon reserves, has invited Russian companies to invest in its oil and gas sector, Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum Mullah Hidayatullah Badri said at the Tatarstan Oil, Gas and Chemistry Forum.

"Afghanistan opens its doors to you. We invite you, especially those from Tatarstan, to invest in our energy sector, oil and gas in particular. The government of Afghanistan guarantees security, transparency and long-term opportunities for your capital. We want to use the wealth of technological experience which Tatarstan has and create joint projects which will benefit not only our countires, but also the whole region," Badri said.

The minister said that the Amu Darya, Katavaz and Helmand basins contained most of the country's significant natural resources, including hydrocarbon feedstock.

"These resources are sufficient not only to satisfy Afghanistan's needs, but also to become a source for exports to neighboring countries, ensuring energy security and regional development," Badri said.

The minister said of Afghanistan's foreign policy stance that "we are not striving to become part of any political blocs, and we want to develop mutual ties with regions step by step, expand mutual interests in an economic sense. Afghanistan is striving to become a transit hub uniting Central and South Asia, as well as the Middle and Far East".