Herat’s Kashk–Tirpal Oil Block Contract Signed for $200 Million

Mr. Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, signed a $200 million contract for the Kashk–Tirpal oil block of Herat Province with Shaher Al-Taqi, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Arabia’s Delta International Company, on Monday, 7 September 2026.
The signing ceremony was held at the Government Media and Information Center in the presence of Mr. Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs; Noor Ahmad Agha, General Director of the Da Afghanistan Bank; Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate; Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan; a number of senior officials of the Islamic Emirate; officials of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum; and representatives of Delta International Company.

The CEO of Delta International Company expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, particularly the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, and spoke about the company’s activities and future plans in Afghanistan. He described the signing of the contract as an important step toward expanding economic cooperation and investment between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

The Minister of Mines and Petroleum said, “I am pleased that today we are witnessing the signing of an important contract and agreement in Afghanistan’s gas sector. We are trying to create a suitable environment for investment in  determination, prospecting, exploration, and professional extraction of the country’s natural resources, and to effectively utilize Afghanistan’s natural resources to promote economic growth, improve people’s welfare, and create employment opportunities.”
He added that the Kashk–Tirpal oil block in Herat Province covers an area of 22,000 square kilometers. The exploration period is 8 years, while the contract period is 25 years. The Tirpal oil block consists of seven blocks located in Herat and Badghis provinces.

Subsequently, Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, described the significance of the agreement, stating that Delta is a well-known international company with extensive experience in investment, and that the presence of such companies in Afghanistan could help to pave the way for attracting further foreign investment.
He added that Afghanistan is a resource-rich country in terms of its underground reserves, and that the proper utilization of these national resources can contribute to the country’s development and improve the well-being of its people.