USAID Mining Investment and development for Afghan (MIDAS) Barite and Limestone Prospects at Herat Province, Afghanistan

Based on their experience in 2011-2012, AKS established a subsidiary company, AKS Mining (AKS-M), to further develop their mining services. Through discussions with national and international mining experts, and understanding that most mining projects are still at an early stage in Afghanistan with little in-country capacity, AKS-M established partnerships with regional and international mining experts and service companies. The key focus of any partnership entered into by AKS-M is skills transfer to Afghan nationals.

Through this initiative AKS supported the MIDAS mission to Herat province for the provision and services to explore barite and limestone deposits.

AKS services included:
• Bid preparation for upcoming tenders
• Exploration drilling (core and RC)
• Sample preparation and dispatch
• Assay services
• Ground and airborne geophysics (gravity, magnetic and electric methods)
• Database management and GIS support
• Environmental services