Afghanistan, despite its lack of significant domestic energy production, is strategically positioned as a vital consumer of imported oil and its derivatives. This reliance is particularly important for diesel, which powers much of the country's transportation, industry, and electricity generation. To meet these needs, Afghanistan has developed sophisticated systems for the importation of oil products from neighboring countries, channeled through various customs offices and organized around three key markets: the Herat oil market, Aqina oil market, and Hairatan oil market. Each market serves a different geographical region and has a unique focus depending on its location and the countries from which it imports fuel. This article explores these three markets, their roles in Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure, and the significant contribution of the Oil Load Group, a leading diesel producer in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Key Customs Offices for Oil and Fuel Imports to Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s fuel needs are served by several key customs points where oil and its derivatives, particularly diesel, enter the country. These include:
Islam Qala (Dogharun): Located on the Afghanistan-Iran border, Islam Qala serves as a major customs checkpoint for fuel imports from Iran, facilitating a steady flow of oil derivatives, especially diesel, from Iranian refineries.
Torghundi (Afghanistan-Turkmenistan border): This checkpoint handles imports from Turkmenistan, a significant supplier of fuel to Afghanistan, especially through the Aqina oil market.
Hairatan (Afghanistan-Uzbekistan border): Situated at a critical point between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, Hairatan customs office serves as the entry point for fuel imports from Central Asia, including diesel from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Aqina (Afghanistan-Turkmenistan border): Similar to Torghundi, Aqina connects Afghanistan to Turkmenistan and handles a significant volume of diesel imports, especially during high-demand seasons.
Nimroz (Afghanistan-Iran Milak border): On the Afghanistan-Iran border, Nimroz serves as another important customs point for Iranian fuel products, particularly for regions in southern Afghanistan.
Farah (Afghanistan-Iran Mil78 border): This checkpoint manages imports from Iran to supply oil to the western regions of Afghanistan.
These customs offices are vital conduits in Afghanistan's oil supply chain, ensuring that different regions receive the fuel needed for transportation, electricity, and heating.
Overview of Afghanistan’s Three Major Oil Markets
1. Herat Oil Market
The Herat oil market is located in western Afghanistan and serves as a primary hub for fuel imports from Iran and the Kurdistan region of Iraq. This market's importance is heightened by its proximity to Iran, which supplies a large portion of Afghanistan's oil imports.
However, the defining feature of the Herat oil market is its focus on Iraqi Diesel, particularly fuel produced by the Oil Load Group in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Oil Load Group is one of the region’s most prominent diesel producers, known for its high-quality gas oil (diesel) that complies with Afghan standards. This diesel, referred to locally as Iraqi Diesel, is in high demand across western Afghanistan, where it is used in transport and industry.
Herat's role as a major fuel hub is bolstered by the fact that it imports other varieties of diesel as well, including Diesel 01, a premium grade of diesel that is used for high-performance engines and equipment. The Herat oil market thus stands as a critical node in Afghanistan’s oil infrastructure, ensuring the western part of the country has access to both affordable and high-quality fuel.
2. Aqina Oil Market
The Aqina oil market is located near the Turkmenistan border and primarily serves northern Afghanistan. This market is distinguished by its focus on importing fuel and oil derivatives from Turkmenistan, a key regional supplier of natural gas and oil products. Turkmenistan, with its vast energy reserves, plays a vital role in Afghanistan's fuel security, supplying large volumes of diesel and other fuel types via Aqina.
In certain seasons, the Aqina market also sees imports of Iraqi Diesel, particularly when demand spikes and the supply from Turkmenistan alone cannot meet the needs of the market. This seasonal importation of Iraqi Diesel reflects the flexible and responsive nature of Afghanistan's oil markets, which adapt to changing demand patterns and supply availability.
The Aqina market's proximity to Turkmenistan ensures a steady supply of oil derivatives, which are critical for powering northern Afghanistan’s industries, agricultural machinery, and transport systems. It also serves as a vital energy source for the region’s households, which depend on fuel for heating during harsh winters.
3. Hairatan Oil Market
The Hairatan oil market is located in northern Afghanistan, near the border with Uzbekistan, and is primarily focused on the import of fuel and oil derivatives from Central Asia and Russia. This market plays a key role in Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure due to its strategic location, which provides direct access to fuel supplies from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and even Russia.
One of the key products imported through the Hairatan market is Diesel 05, a standard-grade diesel widely used across Afghanistan. Diesel 05 is especially important for powering the country’s extensive fleet of trucks, buses, and other vehicles, as well as for use in generators that provide electricity in areas with limited access to the national grid.
By sourcing fuel from Central Asia and Russia, the Hairatan oil market ensures a diversified supply of oil derivatives, reducing Afghanistan’s reliance on a single supplier and enhancing the country’s energy security. This diversification is crucial in maintaining a steady fuel supply, especially during geopolitical disruptions or when demand increases during the winter months.

Oil Load Group: A Key Diesel Supplier from Iraqi Kurdistan
The Oil Load Group stands out as a prominent player in the region’s oil and fuel industry, particularly in the Herat oil market, where it supplies large quantities of Iraqi Diesel. Based in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the Oil Load Group produces gas oil (diesel) that meets the stringent quality standards set by Afghan authorities. The group has gained a reputation for reliability, consistently delivering high-quality fuel that powers Afghanistan’s economy.
Iraqi Diesel, produced by Oil Load Group, is particularly popular in Afghanistan for its adherence to the Afghan norm—a set of quality and regulatory standards that govern the import of fuel and oil derivatives into the country. This compliance ensures that the diesel imported from the Kurdistan region is not only efficient for use in vehicles and industrial equipment but also safe for widespread consumption.
Oil Load Group’s diesel exports extend beyond the Herat market, with significant quantities also flowing into the Aqina and Hairatan oil markets during peak seasons. This makes the company a crucial contributor to Afghanistan’s fuel supply chain, helping the country maintain a steady and reliable source of energy.
Afghanistan’s Diesel Imports: An Essential Lifeline
Afghanistan imports various types of diesel through its three main oil markets, each offering unique benefits:
Herat market: Primarily imports Iraqi Diesel, produced by Oil Load Group, alongside Diesel 01, a premium-grade diesel sourced from the Kurdistan region and Iran.
Aqina market: Focuses on importing diesel from Turkmenistan, supplemented by Iraqi Diesel during high-demand periods.
Hairatan market: Imports Diesel 05 from Central Asia and Russia, serving as a key hub for northern Afghanistan’s fuel supply.
The variety of diesel types ensures that Afghanistan can meet its diverse energy needs, from powering trucks and buses to running industrial machinery and providing electricity in remote areas.
Conclusion
The Herat, Aqina, and Hairatan oil markets are the backbone of Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure, each specializing in the import of oil and diesel from different regions. These markets ensure that Afghanistan’s diverse energy needs are met, supplying fuel for transportation, industry, agriculture, and households across the country. The Oil Load Group, a key player in the region’s oil industry, plays a vital role in this system by producing high-quality Iraqi Diesel that powers much of western Afghanistan and beyond.
With a reliable supply chain bolstered by imports from Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan, Turkmenistan, and Central Asia, Afghanistan’s oil markets are poised to continue meeting the country’s growing energy demands, ensuring fuel security even in times of regional disruption