Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a $200 million contract with Saudi Arabia’s Delta International Company to explore and develop the Kashk–Tirpul oil field in western Afghanistan.
The contract was signed on Monday, September 7, 2026, by Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, and Shaher Al-Taqi, Chief Executive Officer of Delta International Company, at a ceremony in Kabul attended by senior Afghan government officials and representatives of the Saudi company.
According to the ministry, the Kashk–Tirpul oil field covers an area of approximately 22,000 square kilometers and consists of seven blocks located in Herat and Badghis provinces.
The exploration period under the contract has been set at eight years, while the overall contract period is 25 years.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Hedayatullah Badri said the agreement would help attract investment in Afghanistan’s natural resources and support the exploration and development of the country’s mineral and energy reserves.
He said the ministry was seeking to create opportunities for professional exploration and extraction of Afghanistan’s natural resources in order to contribute to economic growth, public welfare and job creation.
The CEO of Delta International Company said the agreement marked an important step toward expanding economic cooperation and investment between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. He also expressed appreciation to the Afghan government and the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum for facilitating the agreement.
Former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, who also attended the ceremony, described Delta International as an experienced investment company and said the presence of such companies could help attract further foreign investment to Afghanistan.
The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar, Afghanistan Central Bank Governor Noor Ahmad Agha, government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, and other senior officials.
