The Afghan government has accepted bid documents from nine foreign companies to explore the Ainak deposit containing huge copper reserves, daily newspapers Outlook said on Wednesday.

The government would finalize name of the successful bidder for the mine, which locates in the central Logar province, in four to five months, Minister of Mines Ibrahim Adil told a press conference on Tuesday, the newspaper said.

He said a total of 13 foreign companies had submitted bid documents, and the government chose nine in the first run, among which are companies from China, Russia, Canada, the United States, Australia, Kazakhstan and India.

With an estimated 12 million tones of copper, the Ainak deposit is believed as one of the biggest copper reservoirs, according to Adil.

A World Bank analysis indicated the Ainak copper production could capture as much as 2 percent of the annual world market, as well as vast coal deposits and many other deposits that could spur major development.

Adil said the exploration of the mine would generate 200 million U.S. dollars to the government annually, and provide job opportunity for 3,000 Afghans.

A small town, having offices and houses, would be constructed close to the site to facilitate officials and workers of the company, which gets right to explore the mine, he added.

In the coming months, the mines ministry's officials would thoroughly review various documents of the companies involved in the leasing out of natural reserves.

Adil said the company, which has the biggest bid and possess the best technology and strong financial support, would be announced successful in the bidding, assuring the whole process would be transparent.

Source: Xinhua