Afghanistan : un nouvel Eldorado ?
Publié : 15 mars 2006, 14:48
L'USGS vient d'annoncer une importante réévaluation des réserves de pétrole et de gaz naturel découvertes dans le nord de l'Afghanistan.
Cependant, 1,6 Gb, c'est pas mal, mais c'est loin des 54 Gb de nouvelles découvertes, annoncés par PEMEX, dans le Golfe du Mexique. Mais c'est peut-être plus réaliste ...Huge energy reserves found in Afghanistan
By AP
WASHINGTON -- Two geological basins in northern Afghanistan hold 18 times the oil and triple the natural gas resources previously thought, scientists said yesterday as part of a U.S. assessment aimed at enticing energy development in the war-torn country.
Nearly 1.6 billion barrels of oil and about 15.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could be tapped, said the U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Industry.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the estimates as "very positive findings," particularly since the country now imports most of its energy, including electricity.
"Knowing more about our country's petroleum resources will enable us to take steps to develop our energy potential, which is crucial for our country's growth," said Karzai, whose government was created after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 and later won national elections.
The $2-million US assessment, paid for by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, was nearly four years in the making.
U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton, whose agency includes the Geological Survey, said the assessment would help Afghanistan better understand and manage its natural resources.
Afghanistan's petroleum reserves were previously thought to hold 88 million barrels of oil and five trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
"There is a significant amount of undiscovered oil in northern Afghanistan," said Patrick Leahy, the U.S. Geological Survey's acting director.
Officials anticipate companies could begin energy exploration in two or three years.