Although some of the country's mines have been mined, lapis lazuli, gold and salt have been mined in Badakhshan, copper and iron in Kandahar and Kabul since ancient times; But there are still many mines in Afghanistan that have remained untouched
Several challenges impede the realization of Afghanistan's mineral wealth. Ongoing conflict and security concerns make it difficult to conduct mining operations safely and deter foreign investment. Inadequate infrastructure, including transportation systems and power supply, hampers the development and transportation of minerals. The regulatory and legal framework is still evolving, and issues like corruption and lack of transparency affect investor confidence. Furthermore, there is a shortage of local expertise and technology required for large-scale mining operations, necessitating foreign partnerships. Careful management of the environmental and social impacts of mining activities is crucial to avoid negative consequences for local communities and ecosystems.
Studies and reports estimate that Afghanistan's mineral resources are worth between $1 trillion and $3 trillion. Extensive surveys conducted by international organizations, including the USGS and the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, support this valuation. The country's key mineral resources and their potential value are as follows:
- Afghanistan is a major producer of lapis lazuli, with valuable deposits in the Badakhshan province. High-quality emeralds from the Panjshir Valley and rubies and sapphires found in various regions also contribute to the estimated value.
- Afghanistan possesses significant reserves of talc, particularly in Nangarhar province, which is used in industries like cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The country's large Marble deposits, notably in Herat and Helmand provinces, are valuable for construction and decorative purposes.
- The Aynak Copper deposit in Logar province is one of the world's largest untapped copper reserves, with an estimated value in the tens of billions of dollars. The Hajigak iron ore deposit in Bamyan province is among Asia's largest and holds substantial economic potential. Gold deposits in provinces like Badakhshan and Ghazni are also valued at billions of dollars.
- Afghanistan's lithium deposits, crucial for batteries and electronics, are considered highly valuable due to the increasing demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Rare earth elements, vital for high-tech applications, are in limited supply globally, adding to their value.
- The Sheberghan area in Jowzjan province has a history of natural gas production, and further development in this sector could significantly contribute to the economy. Potential oil reserves in northern Afghanistan, particularly in the Amu Darya Basin, are also worth billions of dollars. Additionally, extensive Coal deposits are found in provinces like Baghlan, Bamyan, and Samangan.
The value-added of the sector of mine has reached 60 billion Afghanis in the first year and its share in GDP reaches 6.6 percent. Afghanistan has many rich mines such as gold, azure, emerald, turquoise, and coal, which are unique in the world, and about 13 types of coal were mined from this mine and even continued to operate during the war. Some of the equipment in the mine dates back to about 45 years ago when it was given to Afghanistan by the Austrian government.
Afghanistan has countless mines and some of the country's mines are famous in the world and for thousands of years the Egyptians have used the Azure of this land in the eyes of the statue of "Akhenaten" and "Queen of Hate". Although some of the country's mines have been mined, lapis lazuli, gold and salt have been mined in Badakhshan, copper and iron in Kandahar and Kabul since ancient times; But there are still many mines in Afghanistan that have remained untouched.
The New York Times reports on Afghanistan's mines that the reserves of newly discovered lithium, iron, copper, cobalt and gold mines in southern Afghanistan are large enough to make the poor country one of the most important in the world. Some social media activists posted a video showing that only 70% of Afghanistan's mines are known and that it is one of the richest countries in the world. The American Mining Association sent its experts to Afghanistan a few years ago, and they returned home with strange statistics.
After several years of research and study, these experts estimated that the total value of Afghanistan's mines is equivalent to 1.5 trillion dollars. Afghanistan has various reserves of oil, coal, gas, iron, emerald, copper, gold, glass, silver, Ruby and turquoise, most of which have not yet been mined. According to this picture, the northern provinces of Afghanistan such as Qandur, Faryab, Balkh, Sar-e-Pul, and Faryab are among the oil-rich regions of the country. Meanwhile, copper mines are mostly found in the northwest, south and east of Afghanistan.
So far, more than 12 copper mines in the areas of "Herat", "Farah", "Logar", "Kapisa", "Zabul", "Kabul", "Panjshir", "Kuhdaman", "Arghandab", "Maidan", " Bamyan and other parts of the country have been identified. In conclusion, Afghanistan's mineral resources have the potential to significantly boost the country's economy. However, addressing security, infrastructural, regulatory, and environmental challenges is necessary to realize this potential. With the right strategies and international cooperation, the mining sector could become a cornerstone of Afghanistan's economic development.
To unlock the value of Afghanistan's mineral resources, the government is implementing initiatives to create a more favorable environment for mining investments through regulatory reforms and incentives. International assistance from organizations like the USGS provides crucial data for potential investors. Public-private partnerships are essential for sustainable development, leveraging both public support and private sector efficiency.