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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Mineral resources in Afghanistan. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6549237

Despite Afghanistan's wide variety of mineral resources and long history of small-scale mining of gems, gold, copper, and coal, it was not until the 1950's that the country's mineral resources were subject to systematic exploration. The report documents the past and present status of these resources and examines alternative strategies for their exploitation. Chapter 2 provides a brief history of minerals exploration, exploitation, and planning in Afghanistan, including the roles of Great Britain, France, Germany, the Soviet bloc, and the United States in Afghanistan's mineral sector; mineral policy in the five national plans during the years 1962-83; and sector assessments conducted by the World Bank (1978) and the US Department of Energy (1989). Chapter 3 discusses three strategies for developing the country's mineral and hydrocarbon resources. (1) a national orientation focusing on domestic needs; (2) a regional strategy that would consider markets in countries close to Afghanistan; and (3) an international strategy that would place Afghan resources on the international market.

Research Organization:
Nathan Associates, Inc./Berger (Louis) International, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)
OSTI ID:
6549237
Report Number(s):
PB-93-180529/XAB; CNN: AID-306-0205-C-00-9385-00
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English