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By Geena Paul
JOHANNESBURG (Commodity Online): What is common to Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Algeria, Nigeria, Libya and Russia? Terror, gold and minerals!
Yes, even as the world is struggling to tackle the surging terror attacks across the world, another factor worrying peace -loving nations is that the terrorists have bases in almost all mineral-rich nations, including African countries which are known for its gold and diamonds.
At a time when Russia is probing the recent attacks on Moscow Metro and in Dagestan, global mineral industry and miners cant turn a blind eye to the fact that Dagestan and many of Russias regions are rich in minerals and gold. Russia, a gold producing giant, has several gold mines located in terror-infested regions.
Same is the case with Afghanistan. Taliban-ravaged Afghanistan is sitting on a wealth of mineral reserves perhaps the richest in the region. Significant deposits of copper, iron, gold, oil and gas, and coal as well as precious gems such as emeralds and rubies are largely untapped and still being mapped.
And, the biggest worry of the US, India and other nations now is that will this wealth fall in Taliban hands, which will use it to fund its terror acts.
In Afghanistan, already in the pipeline is the exploitation of a massive copper deposit one of the biggest in the world about 30 km east of Kabul Aynak copper mine. The colossal Aynak project represents, however, only a fraction of Afghanistans unexploited resources. Studies of only 10 per cent of the country have discovered abundant deposits of copper, iron, zinc, lead, gold, silver, gems, salt, marble and coal.
But, the Taliban holds major parts of Afghanistan under its army and most of the mineral rich areas in the country are either inaccessible or under Taliban control.
In case of Sudan, terror is also present in several parts of the nation, which is rich in uranium ore and other minerals. Nonhydrocarbon minerals of actual or potential commercial value in the country included gold, chrome, copper, iron, manganese, asbestos, gypsum, mica, limestone, marble, and uranium. Gold had been mined in the Red Sea Hills since pharaonic times. Gold also has been mined along the borders between Sudan and Uganda and Zaire.
The country however, has been a longtime supporter of international terrorism and a former base for al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. Sudan has been on the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1993. The ideology of the current regime, led by General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, matches up with bin Ladens.
Another mineral rich country which is facing terror trouble is Somalia. The mineral industry of Somalia produces small quantities of gemstones and salt. The country also has deposits of feldspar, gypsum, iron ore, kaolin, limestone, natural gas, quartz, silica sand, tantalum, tin, and uranium.
The ongoing chaos in the East African nation makes it an ideal base for terrorism. Somalias population of 7.5 million is 99 percent Muslim. The country supports Qaida activity in Kenya and was the base for terrorists who mounted the November 2002 attacks in Mombasa, Kenya.
Same is the case with Algeria, a nation rich in minerals and terrorism. The country has many iron, lead, zinc, copper, calamine, antimony and mercury mines. The most productive are those of iron and zinc. Lignite is found in Algiers; immense phosphate beds were discovered near Tébessa in 1891. There are more than 300 quarries which produce, among other stones, onyx and beautiful white and red marbles.
As far as terror impact is concerned, the Armed Islamic Group (GIA ) is active in the country. The Salafist Group for Call and Combat broke off from GIA in 1996 and is considered by experts to be the most dangerous armed group in Algeria. The State Department estimates that terrorism and ongoing violence have left more than 100,000 people dead since 1991 in Algeria.
Another terror bed with lots of natural resources is Nigeria, which has gold deposits in Maru, Anka, Malele, Tsohon Birnin Gwari-Kwaga, Gurmana, Bin Yauri, Okolom-Dogondaji, and Iperindo in Kwara State. Gold production began in the country in 1913 and peaked in the 1930s. The Nigeria Uranium Mining Company was a parastatal organization that controlled the exploration and mining of uranium in Nigeria. Recently, several important uranium deposits were discovered in Cross River State, Adamawa State, Taraba State, Plateau State, Bauchi State, and Kano State.
But experts warn of a growing Islamist threat in the massive West African country, home to 133 million people, nearly 67 million of whom are Muslim. Twelve states in the vast countrys northern region, home to the mostly Muslim Hausa-Fulani tribe, have implemented Islamic sharia law. While the law does not, in theory, apply to non-Muslims, implementation of sharia has caused religious violence between Muslims and Christians and drawn protests from the government, which says that adopting sharia violates the constitution.
Dagestan, a small part of Russia has recently seen terror bombings. Again, Russia as a whole faces major terror threats from Chechen militants, who are supported by al-Qaida. Dagestan is rich in oil, natural gas, coal, and many other minerals.
Russia is one of the major gold producers for centuries. Many Russian counts and tsarís sent expeditions to prospect for gold, silver and base metals in the outskirts of the great empire but lack of knowledge and experience led all the early attempts to failures.
But Russia has been a regular target of terror during the past many years. The remote areas in Russia are still hotbed of terrorism.
Worlds gold & minerals in terror crosshairs! : Detailed News | 02 April 2010 | www.commodityonline.com
JOHANNESBURG (Commodity Online): What is common to Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Algeria, Nigeria, Libya and Russia? Terror, gold and minerals!
Yes, even as the world is struggling to tackle the surging terror attacks across the world, another factor worrying peace -loving nations is that the terrorists have bases in almost all mineral-rich nations, including African countries which are known for its gold and diamonds.
At a time when Russia is probing the recent attacks on Moscow Metro and in Dagestan, global mineral industry and miners cant turn a blind eye to the fact that Dagestan and many of Russias regions are rich in minerals and gold. Russia, a gold producing giant, has several gold mines located in terror-infested regions.
Same is the case with Afghanistan. Taliban-ravaged Afghanistan is sitting on a wealth of mineral reserves perhaps the richest in the region. Significant deposits of copper, iron, gold, oil and gas, and coal as well as precious gems such as emeralds and rubies are largely untapped and still being mapped.
And, the biggest worry of the US, India and other nations now is that will this wealth fall in Taliban hands, which will use it to fund its terror acts.
In Afghanistan, already in the pipeline is the exploitation of a massive copper deposit one of the biggest in the world about 30 km east of Kabul Aynak copper mine. The colossal Aynak project represents, however, only a fraction of Afghanistans unexploited resources. Studies of only 10 per cent of the country have discovered abundant deposits of copper, iron, zinc, lead, gold, silver, gems, salt, marble and coal.
But, the Taliban holds major parts of Afghanistan under its army and most of the mineral rich areas in the country are either inaccessible or under Taliban control.
In case of Sudan, terror is also present in several parts of the nation, which is rich in uranium ore and other minerals. Nonhydrocarbon minerals of actual or potential commercial value in the country included gold, chrome, copper, iron, manganese, asbestos, gypsum, mica, limestone, marble, and uranium. Gold had been mined in the Red Sea Hills since pharaonic times. Gold also has been mined along the borders between Sudan and Uganda and Zaire.
The country however, has been a longtime supporter of international terrorism and a former base for al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. Sudan has been on the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1993. The ideology of the current regime, led by General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, matches up with bin Ladens.
Another mineral rich country which is facing terror trouble is Somalia. The mineral industry of Somalia produces small quantities of gemstones and salt. The country also has deposits of feldspar, gypsum, iron ore, kaolin, limestone, natural gas, quartz, silica sand, tantalum, tin, and uranium.
The ongoing chaos in the East African nation makes it an ideal base for terrorism. Somalias population of 7.5 million is 99 percent Muslim. The country supports Qaida activity in Kenya and was the base for terrorists who mounted the November 2002 attacks in Mombasa, Kenya.
Same is the case with Algeria, a nation rich in minerals and terrorism. The country has many iron, lead, zinc, copper, calamine, antimony and mercury mines. The most productive are those of iron and zinc. Lignite is found in Algiers; immense phosphate beds were discovered near Tébessa in 1891. There are more than 300 quarries which produce, among other stones, onyx and beautiful white and red marbles.
As far as terror impact is concerned, the Armed Islamic Group (GIA ) is active in the country. The Salafist Group for Call and Combat broke off from GIA in 1996 and is considered by experts to be the most dangerous armed group in Algeria. The State Department estimates that terrorism and ongoing violence have left more than 100,000 people dead since 1991 in Algeria.
Another terror bed with lots of natural resources is Nigeria, which has gold deposits in Maru, Anka, Malele, Tsohon Birnin Gwari-Kwaga, Gurmana, Bin Yauri, Okolom-Dogondaji, and Iperindo in Kwara State. Gold production began in the country in 1913 and peaked in the 1930s. The Nigeria Uranium Mining Company was a parastatal organization that controlled the exploration and mining of uranium in Nigeria. Recently, several important uranium deposits were discovered in Cross River State, Adamawa State, Taraba State, Plateau State, Bauchi State, and Kano State.
But experts warn of a growing Islamist threat in the massive West African country, home to 133 million people, nearly 67 million of whom are Muslim. Twelve states in the vast countrys northern region, home to the mostly Muslim Hausa-Fulani tribe, have implemented Islamic sharia law. While the law does not, in theory, apply to non-Muslims, implementation of sharia has caused religious violence between Muslims and Christians and drawn protests from the government, which says that adopting sharia violates the constitution.
Dagestan, a small part of Russia has recently seen terror bombings. Again, Russia as a whole faces major terror threats from Chechen militants, who are supported by al-Qaida. Dagestan is rich in oil, natural gas, coal, and many other minerals.
Russia is one of the major gold producers for centuries. Many Russian counts and tsarís sent expeditions to prospect for gold, silver and base metals in the outskirts of the great empire but lack of knowledge and experience led all the early attempts to failures.
But Russia has been a regular target of terror during the past many years. The remote areas in Russia are still hotbed of terrorism.
Worlds gold & minerals in terror crosshairs! : Detailed News | 02 April 2010 | www.commodityonline.com
