Ahmed Khan Malik

The huge copper reserves of Balochistan have the potential to transform Pakistan into a prosperous country, if exploited speedily and intelligently, reports WealthPK. Saindak Town in the Chaghi district of Balochistan is popular for its copper-gold mines. The Geological Survey of Pakistan and foreign investors have unearthed vast deposits of copper in many places. Saindak and Reko Diq deposits have reserves of about 4.5 billion tons of copper. The total recoverable minerals of copper, gold, and silver from the Saindak deposits are roughly in the range of about 1.69 million tons, 2.24 million ounces, and 2.49 million ounces, respectively. “Reko Diq is a large copper and gold deposit containing 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold in inferred and indicated resources. Reko Diq is one of the largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits globally, capable of producing 200,000 tons of copper and 250,000 ounces of gold a year for more than half a century,” Dr. Khalid Mustafa from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) told WealthPK. 

He said copper production will play a significant part in the global shift to renewable energy over the next decade, as governments increase the production of solar and wind technology, as well as electric vehicles, to achieve climate goals. In 2020, Pakistan produced approximately 13,000 tons of copper ores and is the only importer of copper ores in China. “There are more opportunities for the private sector and direct foreign investment in mining, processing, and trading/exports subsectors. Reko Diq is one of the largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits globally, capable of producing 200,000 tons of copper and 250,000 ounces of gold a year for more than half a century.  “The Reko Diq project will be one of the largest copper and gold mining projects in the world and still continues to be in the right time frame due to the emergence of EVs and renewable energy like solar,” Khalid said. “Copper is necessary for transforming and transmitting these sustainable energy sources to a useful final state.

The quality of this metal makes it the most cost-effective material for a variety of sustainable energy systems, including cables, batteries, transistors, and inverters,” he added. Copper is processed in several stages, from extraction and crushing of the ore to electrolytic refining, which allows the production of 99.99 percent pure copper cathodes. All copper is mined by digging or blasting sulfide and oxide ores, which are then crushed into walnut-size pieces. The crushed ore is a ball or rod milled in large, rotating, cylindrical machines until it becomes powder with less than 1.0 percent copper content. Sulfide ores are moved to a concentrating stage, while oxide ores are routed to the leaching tanks. In a significant development, Khalid said the Government of Pakistan awarded the development contract of Reko Diq project to Barrick Gold, a Canadian company. The company is expected to invest several billion dollars in one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines in Balochistan.

Credit: INP-WealthPk