News from 2012 but maybe it will be possible to use locally extracted mineral for batteries.
Test confirms rare earth metals in KP and Fata
Analytical work on surface outcrops has indicated presence of 2-10 kg/ton of four rare earth metals in Malakand and Fata. This was stated by former Manager Mines and Mineral, Fata Development Authority (FDA), Mohammad Yaqub Shah while talking to
Business Recorder.
The analytical work on surface outcrops pertaining to Malakand Agency and Fata was conducted at Pinstec Laboratories (Nelore, Islamabad). While elsewhere in the world deposits containing a maximum of 10 kilogram/ton of total rare earth metals are being worked out. The Government of Japan, in November 2010 through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed their interest in this particular mineral commodity in Pakistan by requesting preliminary information for their consideration and subsequently offering their recommendations for the development/mining of these minerals to the Government of Pakistan.
The matter was conveyed to the Ministry of P&NR Islamabad for accordingly action. As customary in our country, this golden opportunity for the development of a very important minerals group which, of course, could have brought substantial FDI apart from other immense benefits, was not pursued properly.
It is worthwhile to state here that Japan having an annual consumption of 27,000 tons of REE has recently discovered a huge resource of this vital group of minerals in the sea mud of the Pacific Ocean up to 6,000 meters below the ocean surface at 78 locations and is planning to extract the deposits by pumping up the material from the ocean floor.
This group of 17 metals which habitually occur in the nature together is strategically so important that a former Chinese President Deng Xiaoping recognised its importance almost two decades ago. "The Middle East has oil and China has rare earths",
According to a recent Congressional Research Service Report, world demand for rare earth metals will continue to grow with the growth of the middle class, especially in China, India and Africa. Demand will continue to grow because high tech products and renewable energy technology cannot function without rare earth metals.
In Pakistan, several occurrences of a peculiar rock type, namely carbonatite, globally recognised to contain these metals have already been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining Khyber Agency (Fata) in over a 150km long and discontinuous belt, extending from Pak-Afghan border in the west up to Tarbela area in the east. So far, seven of such occurrences have already been reported at the localities of Loe-Shilman, (Khyber Agency) and Sillai Patti, Khungi, Jambil, Koga, Tarbela and Jawar areas, all lying in Malakand Division, Swat Division and Swabi districts.
However, it is still not too late for the nucleolus of planers of Pakistan to begin to see the potential in these minerals. Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), a federally owned commercial entrepreneur, mandated for the whole spectrum of mineral sector activities right from exploration to ultimate utilization can play a pivotal role according to its Memorandum of Association by initiating a project for exploration and evaluation of the rare earth metals in Pakistan.
In this context PMDC has the privilege to enter into any type of JV partnership with respective Provincial Govt''s. entities and National or Multinational Organisations such as Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Fata Development Authority etc for acquiring financial, regulatory and technical assistance etc.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2012