Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan has vast deposits of graphite which if officially mined, processed and marketed can not only help the country grab a lion’s share of the global market of graphite and products made from its extractions, but also contribute handsomely towards strengthening the economy, reports WealthPK.

Graphite and its product graphene both are going to make a history of new inventions and innovations. Many countries are strengthening their economies from the export of graphite and its related products. China, Brazil, Norway, Mozambique, Madagascar, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, India, and Sri Lanka are the larger exporters of Graphite, while the United States, Japan, England, and Spain are considered the larger exporters, researchers, and producers of graphene.

It is expected that the global graphite market will be worth US$21.6 billion by the year 2027 at the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.3% while in the same year the international market of graphene will reach the CAGR of 40.2% worth US$ 876.8 million. Talking to WealthPK, Principal Geologist in the Global Mining Company and former general manager geology in the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) Muhammad Yaqub Shah said, “Graphite is one of different types of coal occurring primarily in metamorphic rocks.

In Pakistan, Graphite Schist consists of areas of Katlang Mardan, lower Buner, and Malakand. For commercial purposes, graphite must have at least 30% of carbon content. The more the better it will be considered. After processing, its grade is enhanced from 60 to 70% or more. Pakistan has sizeable deposits.” 

He also shared a few pictures of graphite found from Graphitic Schist in Mardan Dist. Yaqub emphasized that graphite must be properly mined, processed and marketed in Pakistan at official level. This, he said, will help the mining sector to flourish and play a vital role in strengthening the country’s economy in all aspects.

Talking to WealthPK, Assistant Director Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) Yasir Shaheen Khalil said, “Graphite is a composition of pure carbon. It is created by the metamorphism of organic material e.g., coal, oil, etc. Its good quality is based on the low quantity of impurities. A few main impurities are silicates like clay, mica, quartz, etc. The less the impurities, the higher the grade of graphite”.

Sharing his views about graphite with WealthPK, geologist and miner Imran Babar said, “Considerable deposits of graphite are found in the country, especially in Balochistan. Its deposits are also found on a medium scale in the other parts of the country. Graphite uses are far more than only manufacturing typical batteries or pencils. It is safe to say that due to the versatility of graphite and extracted materials, e.g., graphene, the coming age is the age of graphite”.

In Pakistan, graphite of minimum grade of 30 to a maximum grade of 90 is found. Practically, graphite of more than 90 percent is impossible due to impurities which make an important part of the mineral, he said.    Graphite is used to produce high-temperature bearing lubricants, friction material, steel, pencils, brushes for electrical motors, carbon electrodes, plates needed in dry cells, refractories, arc lamps, foundry facings, crucibles, etc.

Graphene, extracted from graphite, is simply one atomic layer of graphite that is the most promising material for industrial applications. It is used to produce anti-corrosion coatings, paints, manufacturing efficient sensors, electronics, solar panels, DNA sequencing, desalination, etc. It is stretchable as rubber but stronger than diamond. A recent test research shows that graphene is well suitable to the manufacturing of bulletproof vests for defense employees.

In biomedicines, it is mostly used for tissue engineering and to produce biological agents e.g., antimicrobials. Graphene is used in construction works to make a waterproof layer and it also shields freezing and melting problems in building works in very cold places. Graphene-based products are also used in smartphones, wearables, virtual reality, supercapacitors and cars, batteries, sports gears, etc.

It is important to make tactful policies to manage the deposits of graphite to extract proper economic benefits. China is the shining star on the horizon of graphite processing and exports. Pakistan can get technical support from China and other countries to make this segment of the industrial sector promising. There is too much potential for foreign investors in this mining segment as well.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk