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Afghan Mining Minister here today
BBC Radio 4 this morning reports the Afghan Mining Minister, is in London today attempting to sell Afghanistans Minerals as a money-making opportunity at a meeting for investors. Afghanistan is appealing to the world's industrialists to share in a potential of an up to £2 Trillion bonanza of untapped mineral wealth.
“Diamonds are about the only thing lacking in a country that geologists say has huge deposits of copper, iron and lithium – a vital ingredient for batteries that go in everything from iPhones to electric cars – as well as precious stones such as rubies and emeralds.
The director of Integrity Watch Afghanistan warned that there are dangers, particularly if the country continues to lack the capacity to control mining conglomerates that are financially more powerful than the Afghan state itself.
Rainer Hengstmann, a mining expert who used to work for the Afghan Ministry of Mines, said: "I don't think they can handle it because they lack the real management skills to do it."
The problem was highlighted by Afghanistan's first major mineral deal, which led to the tendering in 2008 of Aynak, a large copper deposit close to Kabul. When the government awarded it to a Chinese-controlled company, US congressman Don Ritter questioned why such a valuable asset should go to a country that has not contributed to the international military effort to stabilise Afghanistan.”
Is it now possible that the USA and allies can afford to leave Afghanistan altogether ?
“Diamonds are about the only thing lacking in a country that geologists say has huge deposits of copper, iron and lithium – a vital ingredient for batteries that go in everything from iPhones to electric cars – as well as precious stones such as rubies and emeralds.
The director of Integrity Watch Afghanistan warned that there are dangers, particularly if the country continues to lack the capacity to control mining conglomerates that are financially more powerful than the Afghan state itself.
Rainer Hengstmann, a mining expert who used to work for the Afghan Ministry of Mines, said: "I don't think they can handle it because they lack the real management skills to do it."
The problem was highlighted by Afghanistan's first major mineral deal, which led to the tendering in 2008 of Aynak, a large copper deposit close to Kabul. When the government awarded it to a Chinese-controlled company, US congressman Don Ritter questioned why such a valuable asset should go to a country that has not contributed to the international military effort to stabilise Afghanistan.”
Is it now possible that the USA and allies can afford to leave Afghanistan altogether ?
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