The comparison was made at a time when lithium was already widely used in batteries for electronic devices such as cell phones. Meanwhile, another important application has been added: lithium for batteries in electric cars, which are advancing around the world and aimed at helping curb climate change.
Rich in rare earths
The ministry’s report also indicates the suspected presence of 1.4 million tons of rare earth elements in Afghanistan. This is a set of 17 items necessary for computers, mobile phones, wind turbines and batteries, for example, as well as for many high-tech weapons.
Crude oil and natural gas will also be available: “Most of the undiscovered crude oil is in the Afghanistan-Tajikistan Basin, and most of the undiscovered natural gas is in the Amu Darya Basin,” according to the report.
Precious stones such as sapphire and lapis lazuli
Afghanistan has long been an important source of lapis lazuli, a dark blue semi-precious stone mined in northern Badakhshan province thousands of years ago, along with other gemstones such as sapphire and emerald. The finest lapis lazuli can fetch up to $150 per carat, according to a 2019 government report. The majority of mined gemstones leave the country illegally, mainly to Peshawar in Pakistan.
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