Uzbekistan begins exploration at 3 oil and gas blocks in Afghanistan

TASHKENT. Feb 25 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan has commenced geological exploration work on three oil and gas blocks in Afghanistan, the press service of the Uzbek Mining Industry and Geology Ministry said.

"The company Uzbek Overseas Geology Company has begun implementing an exploration project on the territory of Afghanistan. Work is being carried out on the Muhammad-Jandagar, Shamar and Ahmadabad blocks and aims to search for hydrocarbon resources, as well as deposits of iron and copper," the press service said.

The project is being implemented as part of a cooperation agreement between the Uzbek Mining Industry and Geology Ministry and the Afghan Mining Industry and Oil Ministry.

"The Uzbek company obtained the relevant license following negotiations with the Afghan side," the press service said.

According to data from the Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations of Uzbekistan, Uzbek Overseas Geology Company was registered in February 2025. Its main activity is work in the mining industry not included in other categories. Its charter capital exceeds $1 million. The founders are the state-owned JSC Uzbekgeologorazvedka and JSC Uzbekgeofizika (50% each).

According to the website of Uzbek Overseas Geology Company, it was created "for the purpose of stably supplying the economy and production facilities with necessary mineral resources, as well as identifying new mineral deposits as a result of geological exploration in neighboring and foreign countries, their development on an industrial scale, and organizing the production of highly liquid products."

Previously, in February 2025, Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev said that the country's investors were ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in the field of oil and gas exploration and production, as well as to invest in the industrial sector. In September last year, the Afghan diversified conglomerate KAM Group and Uzbekistan's Railcom signed a 25-year contract for the exploration and production of gas at the Toti-Maidan field in Afghanistan's Jowzjan province, covering an area of 7,500 square km.

The official exchange rate on February 25 is 12,187.68 soums/$1.