Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Taliban reportedly asked Russia help manage natural resources Afghanistan which had recently fallen into the hands of the group’s power.
The Russian ambassador in Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, said the Taliban opened up opportunities for his country’s participation in developing Afghanistan’s natural resources.
“The Taliban opens up opportunities for our participation in Afghanistan (in building) the economy, including developing natural resources,” Zhirnov told the Soloviev Live YouTube channel according to a news agency report. TASS via Reuters on Wednesday (25/8).
Afghanistan is indeed one of the poorest countries in South Asia. However, the country actually has abundant natural resources such as minerals.
In 2010, US military officials and geologists revealed that the country, which lies at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, has mineral reserves worth nearly US$1 trillion.
Mineral reserves in Afghanistan are iron, copper, gold, and rare earth minerals which are scattered throughout the province. But most importantly, Afghanistan has the largest lithium reserves in the world.
As is known, lithium is an important component of batteries and other technologies that are currently still scarce.
Demand for metals, such as lithium and cobalt, as well as rare earth elements such as neodymium, began to soar. This is happening as countries try to switch to electric cars and other clean technologies, to cut carbon emissions.
Currently, the three largest contributors of these minerals are China, Congo, and Australia. The three countries contribute about 75 percent of global production of lithium, cobalt and rare earths.
The US government estimates lithium reserves in Afghanistan could rival those of Bolivia, which is the largest owner of lithium reserves in the world.
“Afghanistan is a region rich in conventional precious metals, as well as metals needed for a 21st century economy,” said Ecological Futures Group founder Rod Schoonover, in a statement. CNN.
However, Schoonover predicts that conditions will not change soon under Taliban control.
One of the challenges of managing Afghanistan’s natural resources is security, infrastructure shortages and severe drought.
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