Afghanistan drills oil for first time in north

[Javaman]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100826/ts_nm/us_afghanistan_oil

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan, believed to be sitting on top of billions of dollars worth of minerals and energy sources, has extracted oil for the first time and plans to pump a modest 800 barrels a day, officials said on Thursday.

Afghanistan's Mines Ministry plans to open bidding soon for contracts to refine the oil from the rugged Sar-i-Pul province in the north.

"The infrastructure existed there a long time ago. We overhauled them and this is the first time we are extracting oil," said Jawad Omar, a spokesman for the ministry.

snip...

The north is Afghanistan's key basin for oil and gas.

(mission accomplished)