First GAF-trained Mines Inspectors start work in Afghanistan

Munich, Kabul, June 29th, 2011

After 2 years of training on mines and mining technology nineteen Mines Inspectors have passed their written and oral exams successfully and were awarded certificates in Mine Inspection by the Minister of Mines and the GAF team. The award of the certificates is a major milestone in GAF’s capacity building project with regards to cadastre, inspectorate, audit and licensing functions within the Ministry of Mines, Afghanistan funded by the International Development Association under the “Sustainable Development of Natural Resources (SDNRP) Project”.

Afghanistan has a rich endowment of mineral and energy resources and the development of the extractive industries sector has been identified as the single most important lever to diversify the economy, create employment and raise government revenues. As major national and international investments and operations are about to start the capacity of the government to promote and regulate the sector becomes paramount. The mines inspectors will play a crucial role for Afghanistan on its way to a modern and independent country by ensuring good governance by regularising the extractive industries sector and hence enabling Afghanistan to gain the maximum benefit out of its mineral resources.

The hands on and class room training was conducted by GAF mining experts and covered theoretical and practical training in underground and open pit mining, ventilation, drilling, explosives, energy techniques, transportation, mining health and safety, and environmental protection, over a period of 30 months. Practical training was given not only on mine sites in Afghanistan but also included study trips to mines in Germany and South Africa.

At the Award Ceremony H.E. Wahidullah Shahrani, Minister of Mines said: “By completing these programs the Ministry of Mines gains the capacity not only to coordinate mining activities, but also to monitor the proper implementation of mining projects…”

About GAF AG – Germany

GAF AG, an e-GEOS, Telespazio Company, is globally active and has an international reputation as a competent provider of project design and implementation services in the fields of geo-information, satellite remote sensing, capacity building and management consultancy to private and public clients. Within the past 26 years, GAF has been active in more than 100 countries throughout Europe, Africa, South-America and Asia. More on GAF: www.gaf.de

To obtain more information, please contact:

GAF AG
Tel. +49 (0) 89 12 15 28 0 | www.gaf.de | info@gaf.de

Aigner Marketing & Communications
Birgit Aigner
Äußere Landshuter Str. 20
84048 Mainburg
Tel. +49 (0) 8751 842856
info@aigner-marketing.de
www.aigner-marketing.de

This release was published on openPR.