L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...
L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ... L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...
2.3. Competitors or Partners? Russia’s Role in Developing the Mineral Resource Base of Africa For more than 50 years assistance in investigating and developing the mineral and raw-material resources of African, Asian and Latin American countries was an important sphere of the USSR's technical and economic cooperation with these states. Such cooperation began in early 1930s, when the then young Soviet state assisted its Southern neighbors to explore and develop their natural resource bases. The cooperation at that time was limited to the immediate bordering states – Turkey, Afghanistan, and Mongolia. African countries were able to establish such ties with the Soviet Russia only after achieving independence. The earliest bilateral agreements refer to 1950s; among the first to receive such assistance were Egypt, Ghana, Guinea (Conakry) and Mali. In accordance with inter-governmental agreements signed with those states, USSR dispatched specialists to provide assistance in geological prospecting as well as to work at respective state agencies and companies. Soviet organizations also supplied special equipment and helped to set up national geological services, educational institutions and mining enterprises which constituted the basis of the state sector in the mining industries of young African states. The Soviet Union has made the emphasis on the assistance in the geological survey, thereby creating the foundation for their subsequent industrial development. 40 The Soviet assistance in the survey and development of mineral resources has been especially intensive in the Northern Africa. Relevant agreements have been signed with all countries in the region. A systematic survey of mineral deposits on the territory of Algeria began soon after the two countries had started to cooperate. Under an inter-governmental agreement signed on December 27, 1963, Soviet geologists were dispatched to Algeria to implement a broad program of prospecting for ferrous, non-ferrous, rare and precious metals, rock products and other minerals. They rendered assistance in preparing and expanding the mineral raw-material base for such 99
metals as lead, zinc, mercury, antimony, tin, tungsten, iron, gold, as well as barium and rock salt. Soviet organizations helped to reconstruct and enlarge Algeria's biggest lead and zinc mine in El Abadia. The ore mined was processed at the lead and zinc dressing factory also built with the Soviet assistance. In the Hoggar Upland new industrial deposits of tungsten, and tin have been discovered. Prospecting was completed of the already known Nahda (Launi) tungsten deposit, containing about 17,500 tons of tungsten trioxide. 41 Antimony-polymetallic deposits have been surveyed near the already operating Hammam–N'bails mine, and in Northern Algeria rich mercury deposits have been discovered (Ismail, Mrasma, Guenicha, Fendek). On the basis of the Ismail deposit, a mining and metallurgical integrated plant was built in the beginning of 1973 with the Soviet assistance, its initial capacity being more than 300 tons of mercury a year. As a result, Algeria has become one of the leading producers of mercury. In the late 1970s, more than 1,000 tons of liquid metal was produced in the country annually, more than in any other African country. Mining in Ismail is opencast, and is continuously expanded. In the Betna district Soviet geologists discovered and completed preparatory works for industrial development a deposit of high-quality barytic ores (about two million tons). In 1978, Soviet specialists discovered large deposits of iron ore, dolomites, etc. At the very end of 1979, copper was found in the North-West Sahara. Close cooperation with the USSR has contributed to the consolidation of the state sector in the Algerian oil industry. The first Soviet oil experts arrived in Algeria at the end of 1963 to aid in studying and generalizing geological and prospecting materials, compiling programs, conducting geological survey, elaborating development projects and organizing protection of oil and gas deposits. Beginning with 1967, Soviet specialists have been working in the SOHATRACH–Algeria’s biggest government company. Since 1971, it has been extracting and transporting gas and oil, controlling the survey and development of oil and gas deposits. 100
- Page 50 and 51: the continent. To help African coun
- Page 52 and 53: egy with regard to Sudan and Zimbab
- Page 54 and 55: some price-related difficulties for
- Page 56 and 57: 100,000 students from almost every
- Page 58 and 59: 15 U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral
- Page 60 and 61: CHAPTER 2 Natural Resource Potentia
- Page 62 and 63: tion in the global division of labo
- Page 64 and 65: of other nations (manifest in an ex
- Page 66 and 67: The mineral resource base (MRB) of
- Page 68 and 69: In Nigeria, the smelter at Ikot Aba
- Page 70 and 71: ite production at Komi to reach 6.5
- Page 72 and 73: depletion. In South Africa, output
- Page 74 and 75: 25-26 thousand tons of copper conce
- Page 76 and 77: Country 75 Cost Ranges Namibia 0 20
- Page 78 and 79: The Elkon district, Southern Yakuti
- Page 80 and 81: ites and Miocene sediments extendin
- Page 82 and 83: South, Etango and Valencia alaskite
- Page 84 and 85: of competitiveness by similar produ
- Page 86 and 87: tive scenario, the above goals will
- Page 88 and 89: The concept of resource efficiency
- Page 90 and 91: vately owned. The leading enterpris
- Page 92 and 93: In this respect African and Russian
- Page 94 and 95: Table 2.2.2. Distribution of capita
- Page 96 and 97: will allow the project to overcome
- Page 98 and 99: World prices on all types of minera
- Page 102 and 103: Soviet organizations supplied Alger
- Page 104 and 105: that the gas crisis between Russia
- Page 106 and 107: The second LUKOIL project in Egypt
- Page 108 and 109: The agreement was finally signed du
- Page 110 and 111: pany “Slavneft” would join a co
- Page 112 and 113: DRC to extract copper and cobalt in
- Page 114 and 115: for 22 years in 2002 Friguia refine
- Page 116 and 117: licenses. They are the only Russian
- Page 118 and 119: that the main aims were inter-alia
- Page 120 and 121: Agency to develop plans for up to 4
- Page 122 and 123: pit nickel mine and the Selkirk und
- Page 124 and 125: deposit also contains a Peridotite-
- Page 126 and 127: and Eastern parts of the EPL 3850 p
- Page 128 and 129: Russian economy and the specifics o
- Page 130 and 131: 34 . 2009. C. 366- 368. 35 John St
- Page 132 and 133: CHAPTER 3 Project RUSSAFRICA: Towar
- Page 134 and 135: copra, spices, other products of tr
- Page 136 and 137: This theoretic and scientific aura
- Page 138 and 139: and technical cooperation with Afri
- Page 140 and 141: higher and specialized secondary ed
- Page 142 and 143: used and repaid part of the credit.
- Page 144 and 145: exploitation of projects. Soviet ex
- Page 146 and 147: At the same time we recognize that
- Page 148 and 149: For the Soviet Union, solidarity wi
metals as lead, zinc, mercury, antimony, tin, tungsten, iron, gold, as<br />
well as barium <strong>and</strong> rock salt.<br />
Soviet organizations helped to reconstruct <strong>and</strong> enlarge Algeria's<br />
biggest lead <strong>and</strong> zinc mine in El Abadia. The ore mined was processed<br />
at the lead <strong>and</strong> zinc dressing factory also built with the Soviet<br />
assistance. In the Hoggar Upl<strong>and</strong> new industrial deposits <strong>of</strong> tungsten,<br />
<strong>and</strong> tin have been discovered. Prospecting was completed <strong>of</strong><br />
the already known Nahda (Launi) tungsten deposit, containing about<br />
17,500 tons <strong>of</strong> tungsten trioxide. 41<br />
Antimony-polymetallic deposits have been surveyed near the already<br />
operating Hammam–N'bails mine, <strong>and</strong> in Northern Algeria<br />
rich mercury deposits have been discovered (Ismail, Mrasma, Guenicha,<br />
Fendek). On the basis <strong>of</strong> the Ismail deposit, a mining <strong>and</strong> metallurgical<br />
integrated plant was built in the beginning <strong>of</strong> 1973 with<br />
the Soviet assistance, its initial capacity being more than 300 tons <strong>of</strong><br />
mercury a year. As a result, Algeria has become one <strong>of</strong> the leading<br />
producers <strong>of</strong> mercury. In the late 1970s, more than 1,000 tons <strong>of</strong><br />
liquid metal was produced in the country annually, more than in any<br />
other <strong>Africa</strong>n country. Mining in Ismail is opencast, <strong>and</strong> is continuously<br />
exp<strong>and</strong>ed.<br />
In the Betna district Soviet geologists discovered <strong>and</strong> completed<br />
preparatory works for industrial development a deposit <strong>of</strong><br />
high-quality barytic ores (about two million tons). In 1978, Soviet<br />
specialists discovered large deposits <strong>of</strong> iron ore, dolomites,<br />
etc. At the very end <strong>of</strong> 1979, copper was found in the North-West<br />
Sahara.<br />
Close cooperation with the USSR has contributed to the consolidation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the state sector in the Algerian oil industry. The first Soviet<br />
oil experts arrived in Algeria at the end <strong>of</strong> 1963 to aid in studying<br />
<strong>and</strong> generalizing geological <strong>and</strong> prospecting materials, compiling<br />
programs, conducting geological survey, elaborating development<br />
projects <strong>and</strong> organizing protection <strong>of</strong> oil <strong>and</strong> gas deposits. Beginning<br />
with 1967, Soviet specialists have been working in the<br />
SOHATRACH–Algeria’s biggest government company. Since<br />
1971, it has been extracting <strong>and</strong> transporting gas <strong>and</strong> oil, controlling<br />
the survey <strong>and</strong> development <strong>of</strong> oil <strong>and</strong> gas deposits.<br />
100
Change language