Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Hidayatullah Badri, met the country’s crude-oil refinery leaders on September 30. The ministry said the discussion covered operating conditions, crude processing and the establishment and development of standard refineries. Representatives described their facilities’ activities, capacities and operating processes.

The ministry stressed the need for well-equipped facilities to process domestic petroleum resources and for compliance with technical, environmental and product-quality standards. Participants outlined operational challenges and proposals to improve capacity. The ministry said it would cooperate on upgrading existing facilities and establishing standard refineries, but the statement gave no investment decision, plant capacity or implementation timetable.