He coltan in Venezuela is of recent discovery and its legal exploitation is no more than approximately a year and a half since it began its production in the mining areas south of the Orinoco River.
The tantalum is extracted from the coltan, which is the main mineral currently required on a large scale to produce the essential electronic equipment of modern life, such as smart mobile devices, laptops, medical equipment, among others.
Usually the material is mixed with niobium. Both elements are used for completely different industries: niobium is necessary to form strong alloys of steel. But it is the tantalum that makes the coltan so important, giving it the name of blue gold.
Brazil, Canada and Australia are the leading countries in tantalum and niobium production. But in terms of only tantalum production, Rwanda is the largest producer followed by the Republic of Congo.
The extraction of coltan has aroused a great worldwide controversy because in Africa it has caused conflicts in the political-economical scope and incessant internal wars by the control of both the extraction and the distribution of the mineral.
Between Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and El Congo, smuggling of coltan (and other minerals and precious stones) is one of the main means of financing arms and resources used by local guerrillas.
Location of reservations
The coltan is located in a very large area called the Orinoco mining arch. It covers an area of more than 110,000 square kilometers, equivalent to 12% of Venezuelan territory.It covers regions south of the Orinoco River, passing through three states in the southeastern part of the country to the border in claim with Guyana. The area is also in close proximity to the Orinoco oil belt, to the south.
The states involved are Amazonas, Bolívar and Delta Amacuro, which are known for vast territories of beautiful rainforest and tepuy landscapes, protected forest reserves with populations of indigenous tribes and natural monuments, a hydroelectric dam and famous national parks.
When did it start to explode?
We have an unofficial knowledge of the existence of this material in the territory of Venezuela since the mid-1960s. From 2008, studies began to evaluate and have a more accurate estimate of coltan reserves.Between 2009 and 2010 the government confirms the existence of significant deposits of coltan, with an average potential of 15 500 tons valued at more than 100 trillion dollars.
In 2016 begins the official process of exploitation and production of coltan in the area of Los Pijiguaos, in Bolivar state. Parguaza is one of the mixed companies dedicated to this industry currently, formed in union with the Venezuelan state and Faoz Corporation.
In September 2017 the first ton of blue gold was successfully extracted at the Los Pijiguaos mine. There are also other concessions for the extraction of the ore with the company of the Congo Afridiam, the China CAMC Engineering Co., the Canadian Gold Reserve and the mixed Blue Gold.
This historical extraction is the first that is made officially by the State, since the mineral was extracted of illegal way for a long time and sold in contraband to the border nations.
Current characteristics of the coltan exploitation in Venezuela
1- Concessions and estimated income
Among the concessions already mentioned above, it is estimated that over a 13-year period production will yield a profit in excess of 350 million dollars only with the extraction of the coltan. These mining areas are valued at more than 135 billion.Gold, diamonds, iron, copper and bauxite are also expected to be removed from the new mining arc. It is estimated that there are about 7000 tonnes of gold valued at 200 trillion dollars.
In addition, the extraction process will throw other types of earth elements such as cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and thorium.
2- Security and infrastructure
The national formalization of the exploitation of the coltan required the mobilization of army troops to guarantee the safety of the mining plants, as well as to stop the activities of the many illegal industries that operate in the region.The government plans to build civilian infrastructure in the vicinity of the mines to meet the needs of local populations and communities. Hospitals, schools, agricultural and industrial development, transport routes, urbanization and modernization are at the negotiating table.
3- The environment and communities
News of the opening of new mining areas south of the Orinoco ignited many environmental and cultural warnings. The concern of national and international protectionist associations soon became noticeable.The area included in the mining arch contains a total of 7 natural monuments, 7 national parks, 465 villages, thousands of indigenous people and their traditional areas and water reservoirs.
Environmental care experts say that the extraction process will necessarily require the deforestation of large areas of land and highly damaging mining methods. As a result, many populations will have to be relocated to new urban areas.
It is also said that this would endanger the habitat of many important wetland species, and would affect the natural irrigation systems that feed the large rivers and, consequently, the reservoirs.
At least 5% of the forests in southern Venezuela have been deforested by illegal logging. It is feared that formal exploitation will open up to a greater area of logged forest.
On the other hand it is feared that Venezuela will suffer conflicts similar to those that have hit some African countries by the exploitation of minerals and precious stones.
Despite criticism and social demonstrations to prevent mining access, the government ensures that the extraction is being carried out respecting the ecological standards of the area and the traditional indigenous communities of the area.
Even sectors of the government say they are very interrelated with local communities and in a very good mutual understanding of needs. However, the local population and the international community have little confidence in the fulfillment and respect of these elements.
References
- Jeanfreddy Gutiérrez (2016). Thirst for coltan, gold threatens Venezuelan forests, indigenous lands. Mongabay. Retrieved from mongabay.com
- Latin America Herald Tribune. Venezuela Confirms Coltan Deposits, Billion in Gold Reserves. Recovered from laht.com
- Melissa Shaw (2017). What is Coltan? 5 Facts You Should Know. Tantalum Investing News. Retrieved from investingnews.com
- Telesur (2017). Venezuela Explores Initial Stages of Coltan Mining. Recovered from telesurtv.net
- Marisus Blanco (2017). SPECIAL: Coltan, scarce mineral in the world is in the state of Bolivar. Venezolana de Televisión. Retrieved from vtv.gob.ve
- Julett Pineda Sleinan (2016). "Blue gold"in the hands of the Congo and China passes the $ 100 billion in reserves. Cocuyo effect. Recovered from effectcocuyo.com
Comments
Post a Comment