Afghanistan signs oil extraction deal with Russian firm to revive energy sector
Afghanistan and Russia sign landmark oil agreement and multiple MoUs covering trade, transport, and gas exploration at Kazan forum
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Afghanistan’s Taliban government has signed a landmark agreement with Russian energy firm Inteco Group to extract oil and build refining infrastructure, marking one of the most significant foreign investments in the country since the group’s return to power.
The agreement was signed during the Russia–Islamic World Economic Forum held in Kazan, Russia, by Taliban acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi and representatives from Inteco Group.
Afghan officials described the deal as a major step toward revitalizing the country’s energy sector and deepening economic ties with regional powers.
“This is the first agreement of its kind,” said Rustam Khabibullin, head of the Russian Trade Center in Afghanistan, adding that Inteco Group has already completed geological surveys and is prepared to begin drilling.
The deal also includes plans to construct an oil refinery and supporting infrastructure inside Afghanistan.
Alongside the oil contract, five additional memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between Taliban and Russian officials, covering key sectors such as transportation, aviation, commerce, and gas exploration.
The agreements were finalized during a meeting between Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Alexey Overchuk on the sidelines of the 16th Kazan Forum in Tatarstan.
The MoUs outline cooperation in transport and transit infrastructure, expansion of bilateral trade relations, joint oil and gas ventures, and the development of industrial-logistical zones to strengthen regional connectivity.
While specific financial details and production targets were not disclosed, the agreements underscore the Taliban’s efforts to attract foreign investment and stabilize the Afghan economy through resource development and cross-border commerce.
The deal comes at a time when Afghanistan remains largely cut off from international financial systems, with limited recognition of the Taliban government.
Yet, partnerships like this signal a shift in the country’s approach—leveraging natural resources to build strategic alliances and attract regional investors.
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