Full Breakdown
Afghanistan’s Emerald Boom Faces Tool Shortages
By Drooid · · How we work
Emerald Auctions Drive Panjshir’s Mining Boom
A packed hall in Panjshir’s provincial government offices hosted a brisk auction of roughly cut green stones. By the close of the sale, nearly 3,000 carats were sold, bringing total emerald revenue this year to an estimated 400 million Afghanis (about $6.12 million). The market’s appeal is reflected in strong demand from buyers in Kabul and abroad.
Background: Taliban-Era Mineral Agreements
Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban say they have signed deals with dozens of investors—principally from China, Russia and Iran—to develop gemstone and other mineral projects. The World Bank reported a 22 percent year-on-year rise in state revenues for April and May, boosted by auctions of mines and other resources such as oil and precious minerals.
Employment and Economic Impact
Mining is the dominant source of work in the remote Panjshir valley. Muhammad Aman Rezaii, the mining official overseeing artisanal operations, notes that more than 15,000 people are currently employed in the sector and that over 2,000 additional mining sites have been identified for possible development. Governor Hafiz Muhammad Agha Hakim has highlighted proposals to create an international market for Afghanistan’s precious minerals, especially in Kabul.
Operational Challenges and Calls for Modernization
Miners still rely on basic tools—shovels, pickaxes, drills—and work in near-total darkness, exposing them to landslides, avalanches, flooding and falling rocks. Rezaii stresses the need for proper equipment and processing facilities to make extraction safer and more professional, which could allow minerals to be standardized before export.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Thankfully, more than 15,000 people are currently employed in Panjshir’s mining sector,” — Muhammad Aman Rezaii
- “There are hardly any companies or manufacturing factories here. The main source of employment is the mining sector,” — Muhammad Aman Rezaii
- “There have been various proposals to establish an international market for Afghanistan’s precious minerals, particularly in Kabul,” — Hafiz Muhammad Agha Hakim, the Governor of Panjshir province
- “We work only with basic tools such as shovels, pickaxes, drills and similar equipment.” — Muhammad Aman Rezaii