Uzbekistan has reaffirmed its support for Afghanistan’s economic recovery by backing a long-term gas development initiative in Jawzjan province. According to ToloNews, work has officially begun on the exploration and extraction of the Toti-Maidan gas fields under a 25-year contract signed by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum with KAM Group and Uzbek firm Railcom.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said the project would help reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on imported gas and electricity, stem the outflow of foreign currency, and lay the groundwork for future gas exports. “This project sends a message to regional countries that Afghanistan is ready for investment,” he stated.
Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri described the initiative as a new model of cooperation with Uzbekistan, elevating bilateral ties from historical proximity to a “new phase of modern economic cooperation.” The ministry noted that the Toti-Maidan fields cover 7,500 square kilometers and already contain around 30 wells.
Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Bakhtiyar Mohammad Karimov, emphasized the strategic significance of the agreement, highlighting the application of advanced technologies and adherence to environmental standards. He called the initiative the start of major bilateral energy cooperation.
The Toti-Maidan project follows a series of energy agreements signed in August between Afghanistan’s state-owned utility company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy. Those $243 million contracts, signed with Nego Energy and Uz Energy, include the extension of the 500-kilovolt Surkhan-Dasht Alwan transmission line, substation expansions in Arghandeh and Nangarhar, and upgrades to the Kabul-Nangarhar power corridor.
Officials from both countries say these initiatives underscore a shared commitment to deepening energy and economic ties, even as Afghanistan continues to face serious political and humanitarian challenges.
