Uzbek Company to Invest $100 Mln in Taliban Gas Project at Tooti Maidan Fields

The Taliban have launched work on the exploration and extraction of the Tooti Maidan gas fields in northern Afghanistan, a 10-year project managed by Uzbek company Eriellcom, Amu reports. The contract, signed in October 2024, commits the firm to invest $100 mln in the first year.

Scheme aims to produce 100 MW of electricity from gas within its first two years. Covering around 7,000 square kilometres, the Tooti Maidan reserves are regarded as a key asset for Afghanistan’s energy needs.

At the inauguration ceremony, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said the project would provide jobs, reduce reliance on imports and eventually enable exports. He described it as evidence that Afghanistan was secure and open to both foreign and domestic investment.

«This project will play a significant role in the country’s economic growth,» Baradar said, adding that guarantees and facilities would be offered to attract further investors.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have sought large-scale resource projects to offset economic collapse caused by sanctions and the loss of international aid. They have signed agreements with firms from China, Iran and the wider region for oil, gas and mining development, though many initiatives remain at an early stage.

Experts caution that Afghanistan’s gas could cover some domestic needs but significant infrastructure, such as pipelines and power plants, would be required before exports become feasible.

Kursiv also reports that Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister has called on countries that seized helicopters during the collapse of the former government to return them.