The Leader in the April issue examines in detail a number of projects that were put out to tender. The Government of Afghanistan, through the Ministry of Mines of Afghanistan, has just announced that 25 potential bidders have successfully qualified for the next stage of the tender processes for the exploration and subsequent exploitation of four project areas with deposits containing gold and copper, following receipt the Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs).  The deadline for submission of PQQs was Friday 16 March 2012.

Commenting on the announcement, His Excellency Wahidullah Shahrani, Minister of Mines, said: “We are very encouraged by the number of potential bidders that have qualified for the next stage of the tender processes, following receipt of their PQQs. The geographic diversity evident in the potential bidders that have qualified reflects the level of international interest in the rich mineral resources of the country.” 

“The potential bidders include companies and consortiums from countries including Afghanistan, India, the USA, Canada, the UK, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Australia.  We look forward to providing further updates on the process as the Ministry continues towards the selection of a final preferred bidder for each of the mineral tenders by the end of 2012.”

The tender process for each project is expected to culminate in the granting of an exploration licence and, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, will lead to the granting of the requisite exploitation licence.  Canaccord Genuity, SRK Consulting and Mayer Brown are acting as transaction advisers to the Ministry in relation to the tenders for the projects and every effort is reported to be being made to ensure the highest degree of transparency in the process.