Portrait of Afghan Coal Miners
Coal-covered Afghan miners take a shower inside a hammam, a public shower, at Karkar Coal Mine in north of Pul-e-Khomri, Baghlan province, Afghanistan, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006. Coal is one of the main fuel sources in this energy-hungry country used primarily for household fuel and small industries such as cement and textile factories, or bread-baking. There are four mines in Baghlan provinces, Karka, Dudkash, Ahandara, and Khorddra, and Karka is the biggest mine which produces 60 to 70 tons a day. Coal production in Afghanistan is estimated to be about 220,000 tons a year, and the director of Karkar Coal Mines predicts the coal in Afghanistan might last as long as 70 years to come. Karkar employs about 340 workers including administrative staff, among them miners earn about 4000 Afghanis ($80 USD) per month. Since its inception in 1957, the Karkar mine had a contract with a Czech company until 1989, however, it expected to be managed by Afghan Investment Company in Dec. 13, 2006, and became more capitalized under a private company rather than a government agency such as North Coal Department (NCD).

