[ad_1]
According to a report issued by the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum of Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world contains undeveloped mineral resources of at least US$1 trillion deep underground. [PDF]The South Asian country with a population of 38 million is estimated to have more than 2.2 billion tons of iron ore, 1.3 billion tons of marble and 1.4 million tons of rare earth minerals.
according to Scott MontgomeryA geologist who has studied the scope of Afghanistan’s resources believes that it will take at least seven to ten years for the country to develop large-scale mining and become a major source of income.
Poor security, weak legislation and corruption Prevent The development of the mining industry.
What’s underground?
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Soviet Union and the Eastern European Union carried out extensive survey The geological resources of the country. However, decades of war have meant that most of the resources are still buried.
In 2010, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS) conducted the most comprehensive geological survey of the country and identified 24 areas of specific interest (AOI) in 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
The area of ​​interest is color-coded on the map below. They include: precious metal reserves (green), construction material reserves (yellow), industrial mineral reserves (purple) and oil and gas fields (red).
(Al Jazeera)Precious metals
Iron is the most abundant precious metal in Afghanistan. Total iron ore reserves are estimated at 2.2 billion metric tons, placing Afghanistan among the top 10 countries where iron can be extracted.
The Hajigak Mine is located in the mountainous province of Bamiyan 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Kabul. It has the largest iron deposit in the region, with 1.7 billion tons of high-grade ore, with an iron content of 63-69%.
In this regard, 2.2 billion tons of iron ore can be used to build at least 200,000 replicas of the Eiffel Tower in Paris-this iconic monument is 324 m (1,063 ft) high and is built by 7,300 tons Iron in 1889.
It is estimated that the country also has 183 million tons of aluminum deposits, mainly in Badakhshan and Kandahar provinces. Lightweight metals are the second most used metal in the world, after iron.
Afghanistan also has an estimated 2,698 kilograms of gold deposits in two major gold belts: Badakhshan southwest to Tahar and Ghazni southwest to Zabul. This amount of gold can be mined at least 300,000 gold pound coins weighing 8 grams.
(Al Jazeera)Building materials
Afghanistan is the eighth largest mountain country in the world, and many areas are difficult to access. The Hindu Kush Himalayas span across the northeastern part of the landlocked country and contain a variety of minerals and stones, including marble, limestone, and sandstone, which are widely used in construction.
Marble is a versatile rock, often used in architecture and sculpture. This country produces an impressive 1.3 billion tons of beautiful building stone, which is enough to build 13,000 Washington Monument – Standing 169m (555 feet) high and 17m (55 feet) wide. Nangarhar Province, bordering Pakistan, is famous for its pink onyx marble, which is one of the most popular marbles in the area.
Limestone and sandstone are common types of sedimentary rocks widely used in construction. Limestone is an important component of cement, as well as a major component of household products such as toothpaste and paint.
It is estimated that there are at least 500 million tons of limestone in Afghanistan, mainly in Badakhshan, Herat and Baghlan provinces.
(Al Jazeera)Industrial Minerals
Historically, Afghanistan is one of the main producing areas of lapis lazuli, emeralds and rubies in the world. Most gems are produced in the northeast of the country.
Afghanistan has an estimated 1.4 million tons of rare earth minerals, including lithium (used in batteries), uranium (used in nuclear fuel) and many other minerals. One of the largest rare earth deposits can be found in Khanneshin, Helmand Province.
It is estimated that the country also has 152 million tons of barite, a colorless mineral commonly used for drilling in the oil and gas industry.
(Al Jazeera)Export and trading partners
According to the Economic Complexity Observatory (European Community), the total exports of Afghanistan in 2019 reached 2.24 billion U.S. dollars.
The first three categories are:
- Precious metals, gems and jewelry: 45% (US$1 billion)
- Peel of fruits and nuts, citrus fruits: 24% ($538 million)
- Vegetables, certain roots and tubers: 8% ($177 million)
(Al Jazeera)In 2019, more than 90% of Afghanistan’s products were exported to only three countries—45% were exported to the UAE, 24% were exported to neighboring Pakistan, and 22% were exported to India.
Since the Taliban seized control of the country on August 15, 2021, Western countries have severely restricted the payment of aid to the country.
exist September 2, The Taliban stated that the organization will mainly rely on funds from China, which already holds several Long-term mining lease All over the country.
(Al Jazeera)
[ad_2]
Source link