74 lakh crores hidden in Afghanistan. Treasure: Estimated to be rich in lithium, this can fulfill India's electric vehicle dream, gold and cobalt also reserves

Posted on 20th Aug 2021 by rohit kumar

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world, but Afghanistan has mineral reserves of more than one trillion dollars i.e. 74.37 lakh crore rupees. In 2010, US military officials and the Geological Survey revealed that the central and southern region of Afghanistan has reserves of minerals worth about one trillion dollars, which could completely change the country's economic prospects. With the Taliban returning to power, experts have begun to worry about the safety of Afghanistan's minerals.

 

Large deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, and gold exist

According to scientists, there are large deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, gold, and lithium in Afghanistan. Scientists believe that Afghanistan's rare mineral resources are the largest on Earth. Let us tell you that rare minerals are the biggest need of technology at this time. With their help, mobile phones, TVs, hybrid engines, computers, lasers, and batteries are made.

 

Large quantities of lithium are estimated to be found

The Geological Survey estimates that the world's largest reserves of lithium may be found in Afghanistan. Lithium is a rare and essential commodity for making rechargeable batteries. This can prove to be an important technology to deal with the climate crisis.

 

The situation is unlikely to change soon with the arrival of the Taliban

Rod Schoonover, founder scientist and security expert at Ecological Futures Group, said security challenges, infrastructure constraints, and drought have previously prevented the extraction of these minerals. Now with the arrival of the Taliban in Afghanistan, this situation is not likely to change soon. The largest mineral deposits are of iron and copper and their quantity is very high. These are in such quantities that Afghanistan can become the world's largest country in these minerals. This has attracted the attention of the Taliban to its supporting countries, including China.

 

Afghanistan may be among the richest countries

Mirzad of the US Geological Survey told Science magazine in 2010 that Afghanistan could become one of the richest countries in the region within a decade if peace lasted for a few years and its mineral resources developed.

 

3 countries depend on 75% of lithium-cobalt production

Only 3 countries account for 75% of the world's production of lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. These countries include China, the Republic of Congo, and Australia.

 

Lithium, nickel, and cobalt are used to make batteries

According to the International Energy Agency, the average electric car requires 6 times more minerals than a conventional car. Lithium, nickel, and cobalt are used to make batteries. Copper and aluminum are used in electricity networks, while works involving wind turbines require rare earth elements to produce magnets.

 

Increasing demand for metals like lithium and cobalt

Right now the whole world is moving towards adopting electric cars and other clean technology to reduce carbon emissions. This has led to increasing demand for rare earth elements such as neodymium along with metals such as lithium and cobalt. In May this year, the International Energy Agency said efforts to combat the climate crisis could fail if global supplies of lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements did not increase.