15 oil refineries operate in Afghanistan

KABUL, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 oil refineries are operational in Afghanistan, processing domestically extracted crude oil and low-quality imported fuel in the country, according to the private media outlet Tolonews on Saturday.

Located in the northern Balkh, Kabul and the western Herat province, the facilities have been contributing to meeting the country's fuel needs over the past couple of years.

"These refineries not only process the crude oil extracted inside Afghanistan, but also refine crude oil imported from abroad," the private media outlet quoted Khan Jan Alokozay, a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment of the country, as saying.

The Afghan interim government announced its plans last year to increase oil production from the Amu Darya Basin to 3,000 tons per day. Enditem