Industrial-scale looting of Afghanistan's mineral resources / William A. Byrd and Javed Noorani.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Byrd, William A., author.

Noorani, Javed, author.

Contributor:

United States Institute of Peace, issuing body.

Series:

Special report (United States Institute of Peace) ; 404.

Special report / United States Institute of Peace ; 404

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mines and mineral resources--Afghanistan.

Mines and mineral resources.

Mineral industries--Afghanistan.

Mineral industries.

Mineral industries--Taxation--Corrupt practices--Afghanistan.

Mining law--Corrupt practices--Afghanistan.

Mining law.

Corruption--Afghanistan.

Corruption.

Afghanistan.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (18 pages).

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : United States Institute of Peace, 2017.

System Details:

text file PDF

Summary:

Afghanistan is well endowed with mineral resources. In addition to significant oil and gas reserves in the north (not discussed in this report) and a few mega-resources (Aynak copper and Hajigak iron, also not covered), there are numerous medium-sized and smaller deposits of minerals such as precious gemstones (notably emeralds and rubies), gold, silver, coal, chromite, marble, granite, talc, and nephrite. Afghanistan is uniquely endowed with reserves of lapis lazuli, a semiprecious colored stone considered the country's signature mineral. Artisanal exploitation of small, scattered mineral resources typically has occurred on an informal basis. Artisanal extraction is not a focus of this report. Though the mega-resources remain untapped, mineral extraction from medium-sized and smaller mines has burgeoned in recent years and is occurring at what can appropriately be called an industrial scale. Unfortunately, it is generating only negligible taxes and royalties for the Afghan government, largely negating any benefits for national development. Moreover, such resource exploitation benefits and strengthens the power of warlords, corrupts the government and undermines governance, partly funds the Taliban and reportedly ISIS as well, and fuels both local conflicts and the wider insurgency.

Contents:

Introduction.

Minerals ownership and mining contracts.

Lootable resources.

Mineral looting in Afghanistan. 00 Looting of nonlootable resources in Afghanistan.

Recommendations.

Conclusion.

Notes:

"June 2017."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 16-18).

Description based on online resource; title from PDF cover (USIP, viewed December 7, 2020).

ISBN:

9781601276575

1601276575

OCLC:

989976440