Dow Jones reported that 7 companies from China, India and a joint bid from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have made the tender shortlist for Afghanistan's 1.8 billion tonne Hajigak iron ore deposit.

Mr Hafizullah Afzaly executive officer of project management unit at the ministry informed that following firms have been shortlisted

1. Vedanta Resources PLC's subsidiary Sesa Goa Ltd
2. Essar Group's subsidiary Essar Minerals Ltd
3. China's MCC
4. Ispat Industries Ltd
5. JSW Steel Ltd
6. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
7. Tuwairqi Steel Mills Ltd

The winner will get a mining contract providing exploration and mining
The winner will get a mining contract providing exploration and mining rights to Hajigak, one of Afghanistan's biggest iron ore deposits and considered to be a world class deposit. The deposit has a high iron content 62% and is 130 kilometers west of Kabul in the remote and mountainous province of Bamiyan.

Development of the deposit is also to involve iron ore processing facilities, a coal mine and a power generation facility.

The government has said that the proximity of coal resources offers the potential to develop an integrated iron and steel complex.

(Sourced from Dow Jones)