Scientists Find Big Afghan Oil Reserves

[barbaraann]

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer Tue Mar 14, 5:29 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Two geological basins in northern Afghanistan hold 18 times the oil and triple the natural gas resources previously thought, scientists said Tuesday as part of a U.S. assessment aimed at enticing energy development in the war-torn country.

Nearly 1.6 billion barrels of oil, mostly in the Afghan-Tajik Basin, and about 15.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, mainly in the Amu Darya Basin, could be tapped, said the U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Industry.
...
The $2 million assessment, paid for by the independent U.S. Trade and Development Agency, was nearly four years in the making, said Daniel Stein, the agency's regional director for Europe and Eurasia. The total area assessed was only about one-sixth of the two basins' 200,000 square miles that lie within Afghanistan.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton, whose agency includes the U.S. Geological Survey, said the assessment would help Afghanistan better understand and manage its natural resources.
...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oil_afghanistan

Well, now we know why they invaded Afghanistan and why Gale Norton resigned.

[sui generis]

1. oh wow what a coinkidink

bet they found some in Iraq too.

Amazing. Who would have thought they would find this just this year! Who knew? :shrug: :sarcasm:

[maddezmom]

2. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2167159