Afghanistan may have the world’s largest lithium reserves. Chinese entrepreneurs are eager to help the country’s Taliban rulers exploit them.
Taliban leaders have paused lithium mining and trading in recent months while they seek to negotiate a concession with a foreign firm, and the Chinese are seen as leading contenders. But even after a contract is awarded, extraction may not begin for years because of the challenge of bringing lithium to market, industry experts warn.
Nesar Ahmad Safi trundled alongside the Pech River in a battered Toyota pickup, expounding on two forces that have long shaped life in Konar province: the war — and the mines. As they dig out high-quality kunzite, miners routinely discard heaps of milky rock. Locals called it “takhtapat” — waste kunzite. But geologists know it as spodumene, lithium-bearing ore. “No one knew the value of waste kunzite until Chinese businessmen started arriving,” said Safi, the former head of a village council who now works as a representative for local miners. “They were excited, then everybody got excited.
“As a geologist, I have never seen anything like Afghanistan,” said Wnuk, who now works on private-sector mining projects in Asia and Africa. “It may very well be the most mineralized place on earth. But the basic geologic work just hasn’t been done.”Even if Afghanistan’s mountains prove to hold high-quality lithium, the mines will be cost-efficient only if new roads, railways, ore-processing plants and power plants are built around them.
日本 最新ニュース, 日本 見出し
Similar News:他のニュース ソースから収集した、これに似たニュース記事を読むこともできます。
Video shows interview with Chinese dissident, not 'Chinese Communist Party cadre'A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a 'Chinese Communist Party cadre' exposing party secrets during a live interview. The posts also claim the interview was cut short by Chinese authorities and the individual was 'never heard from again'. But the video in fact shows a prominent Chinese dissident speaking in an interview with the US-government owned broadcaster Voice of America in May 2023.
続きを読む »
Americans have recently gotten bigger raises than other rich countriesInsider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
続きを読む »
Africa's Youth Movement in FocusIntroducing our Africa's New Wave package ✨ We're celebrating the globe's demographically youngest continent filled with rich culture and inspiring radical change. First, meet our cover stars ayrastarr, BNXN and vict0ny, who are redefining Afrobeats:
続きを読む »
Mount Rushmore Project: VOTE now for best ever in Irvington HS sportsThere is a rich, nearly century old tradition of athletics at Irvington
続きを読む »
The Happy Dog: Agency, Consent, and Context Are ImportantEven the most conscientious humans may not completely understand what makes dogs tick, but if they just understood these 3 things, their canine companions would probably be much happier. MarcBekoff explains.
続きを読む »
This New Book Chronicles Lamborghini’s Rich History, From the Countach to the RevueltoPetrolheads, get ready to immerse yourself into the world of Lamborghini with the official book, celebrating the iconic marque's 60th anniversary. 🏎️
続きを読む »