Faiza Tehseen

By tapping its critical mineral sources, Pakistan can become a key player in the global shift toward clean energy.

"In a new green energy economy, securing a prominent position is very important to earn long-term economic benefits. Pakistan is direly in need of strategic planning and international cooperation to tap its deposits of critical minierals used to manufacture batteries for electrict vehicles and solar enegy storage,” underscored Abdul Bashir, chief geologist with Koh-e-Daleel Mining Company Private Limited.

Exclusively talking to WealthPK, he said that environmental risks are involved regarding the mining, extraction, and processing of the critical minerals, including lithium. “Usually, their unregulated extraction leads to displacement of local communities, deforestation, water contamination, and severe ecological damage. Despite the vast potential of critical minerals’ reserves in Pakistan, proper technology is not yet introduced for their sustainable exploitation.”

Bashir said, “Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa host commercially viable deposits of rare earth minerals (REEs), including lithium. Their extraction in an environmentally responsible manner will not only help boost Pakistan’s clean energy capacity, but will also create jobs and attract foreign investment.”He said the government should help local firms set up modern extraction and processing plants, so that the critical minerals, which Pakistan exports in raw form, can be used locally for making energy saving batteries.

Pakistan can earn huge foreign exchange by exporting these batteries.” Meanwhile, talking to WealthPK, Imran Babar, a miner and geologist from Balochistan, stressed the need to apply modern methods for extraction and processing of critical minerals like lithium. “Our miners are not yet ready to shift to modern extraction and processing methods. Therefore, they need to be sensitised to this.”

Babar said that sustainable mining and extraction of critical minerals was key to boosting Pakistan’s mineral sector and economy as costs incurred on import of such products would be greately reduced. He said, “Pakistan must partner with other countries to put the mining and extraction of critical minerals on modern lines.” “The government should offer subsidies for unit installation and infrastructure development,” he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk