Enormous natural resources in Afghanistan
The specifications of nature are not easy in Afghanistan
16.04.2012, Paris, Institute of Rare Earths and Metals - Afghanistan is rich in natural resources. This is an open secret. In an interview conducted by the Institute for Rare Earths and Metals with Mr. Atiq Sediqi, General Director of the Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS), it became known how numerous, qualitatively and quantitatively these are available.
Afghanistan has a very complex geological structure. The northern part belongs to Eurasia, this is the continent of Europe and Asia together. The south is made up of fragments of Godwana Land. Gondwana encompassed the continents of South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar and India. As a result, there was deep-bottomed activity at any time that led to a very rich formation of parageneses.
Oil and gas deposits in Afghanistan
The current status in Afghanistan can be described as follows: So far, no systematic and detailed geological studies have been carried out on a large scale. Most of the studies are from the occupation of the former Soviet Union and are therefore 30-40 years back. These old studies have since been re-evaluated. According to AGS, in 2010, Afghanistan's mineral mineral resources have a value of US $ 286 billion. This value has to be revised upwards with current knowledge, as today there are much more efficient methods to localize and display mineral resources than 40 years ago. In the meantime, AGS has installed a data center with a storage capacity of 92 TB, in which all old and new data are tiled together.
The construction of a nationwide infrastructure in Afghanistan
The mineral resources of Afghanistan
The list of mineral resources reads like the wish list of an industrialized nation. Lithium, beryllium, precious stones, rare earths, copper, molybdenum, gold, niobium, lead, zinc, oil, gas and coal are already proven in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the country has several billion tons of high quality iron ore throughout the East. From Kabul to Kandahar runs a very rich chromium vein. Large quantities of bauxite are detected in central Afghanistan, this is an aluminum ore. Marble and granite are spread across the east and central Afghanistan. There are oil and gas deposits in the north. The total potential of oil resources in Afghanistan is estimated at 1,6 billion barrels and the gas resources at 15690 billion cf.
Current projects
The copper, which lies southeast of Kabul, is already being located in detail by Chinese companies. The investment volume of the Chinese is US $ 5 billion, a production start is planned for the year 2014.
In the province of Bamiyan is a world-class iron deposits. Jobs are to be created through 20.000, the gross value added of this deposit is estimated at US $ 288 billion. Tenders are already running.
An iron mine at Hajigak, a gold mine on the banks of the Amu Darya, oil and gas extraction in the north, and some deposits of copper and molybdenum were also projected.
Extensive amounts of energy are needed to explore the natural resources in Afghanistan. To ensure a continuous supply of energy, coal-fired power plants are being built in central Afghanistan and gas-fired power plants in northern Afghanistan. The infrastructure is growing rapidly throughout the country. Motorways, access roads, railway lines, electricity, water supply, hospitals, schools, shopping malls etc. are built.
The geological situation of Afghanistan
The government in Kabul is promoting this development process by issuing guarantees that foreign investment will not be nationalized. Licenses for large mines will be awarded for a 30 year period, with the possibility to extend the licenses every 5 years. Smaller mines receive an 10 year license with the same extension options. The income tax was also estimated to be very investment-friendly with 20% in general.
It remains to be seen how the situation develops with the Taliban. There have been repeated attacks of this grouping lately. With regard to the general withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, which is to take place over the next few years, the country remains a sought after but very hot iron for investment.
A detailed documentation covering 61 pages is available on the website of the Institute of Rare Earths and Metals (https://www.institut-seltene-erden.de/ ) as PDF document.
To the Afghanistan report PDF
