Afghanistan's Mineral, Oil, and Gas Industries: Unless U.S. Agencies Act Soon to Sustain Investments Made, $488 Million in Funding is at Risk
Abstract
The U.S. government estimates Afghanistan contains sizeable reserves of minerals, oil, and natural gas. Afghanistans mineral deposits are valued at about $900 billion. Development of these mineral resources could eventually generate more than $2 billion in annual royalty and tax revenues for the Afghan national budget. Additionally, Afghanistans reserves of oil and natural gas could be worth more than $220 billion.Given the size and importance of Afghanistans mineral and hydrocarbon (oil and natural gas) reserves, the U.S. government has implemented a number of initiatives designed to develop the extractive industries in Afghanistan. The objectives of this audit were to (1) describe the Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO) initiatives and U.S. Agency for International Development(USAID) programs that were intended to support the development of Afghanistans extractive industries, (2) identify the approaches and strategies guiding U.S. government support for Afghanistans extractive industries since 2009, and (3) determine the extent to which these TFBSO and USAID initiatives incorporated sustainability planning and identified challenges, if any, to the successful sustainment of these industries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1140155
Entities
People
- Christopher Borgeson
- Jerome Goerhing
- Preston Heard
- Zachary Rosenfeld
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction