Manufacturing relies on the agricultural sector for much of its raw materials. Industrial production was up 15 percent in 1987. A new oil refinery was planned in Jowzjan. Resources currently exploited include coal, natural gas, salt, lapis lazuli, talc and barium sulfate. There are reports of additional finds of natural gas and oil.
Hydroelectric power is generated in small but increasing quantities.
A tiny percentage of natural gas production is consumed domestically. Copyright M. Samizay, 1997. All rights reserved. Last updated July 27, 1999.