Only the white men know what exactly they are gaining from
us. Despite issues of political instability, civil wars, ethnic clashes etc. in
Africa, the western world has refused to leave us alone. This is because they
have discovered vale in most of our natural minerals; something we have refused
to discovered.
Below is an insight into some of the minerals found in
Africa that most European, Asian and American countries have discovered in Africa
and have refused to let us be.
Car
Manufacturing
Platinum and Rhodium are car components in the manufacturing
of catalyst converters that are fitted in cars to reduce pollution. Africa produces
the highest percentage of these elements. South Africa alone produces 38% of
the world’s needs of these elements.
Current Prize of Platinum:
$1,411/ oz
Current Prize of Rhodium:
$1,000/oz
Electronics
From Laptops, to cell phones and other small electronic
devices, tantalum form part of its major component. Tantalum forms key export commodity for many African countries. These
countries include Mozambique, Rwanda, DR Congo, Ethiopia etc.
Current Prize of Tantalum:
$262/ Kg
Jewelry
Africa produces more than half of the world’s need for diamonds (57%),
nearly three quarter of the world’s platinum and a fifth of the world’s gold.
Botswana is world’s second biggest producer of diamond. Zimbabwe, DR Congo, South Africa, Angola etc.
form part of the major producers of these minerals.
Current Prize of Diamond:
$6,274 (4/4 karat)
Batteries
Most rechargeable batteries comprise of a substance called “Cobalt”. Cobalt is used as an electrode
in the manufacture of batteries for electronic devices. DR Congo alone in 2010
made a revenue of $8billion from exporting of cobalt only. Other countries with
huge deposit of this mineral include Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa.
Current Prize of Cobalt: $13.50/lb
Airplanes
Jet engines use super alloys that often contain cobalt and chromium.
Many aircraft parts are made from aluminum
alloys, which can account for up to 80% of a passenger jet's weight. Guinea
has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves, as well as important iron ore,
gold and diamond reserves. Minerals accounted for a quarter of the country's
GDP and about 95% of export earnings in 2011. In the next decade, Guinea is
predicted to become a world-leading producer of iron ore, which could reshape
its economy.
Current Prize of Ferrochrome:
$ 2.42/kg
Current Prize of Aluminum:
$ 0.8/lb
Electricity
Africa produces coal, gas and uranium. Uranium is the source of nuclear fuel, which provides
around 14% of the world's electricity. Namibia's economy is heavily dependent
on mineral exports. As well as uranium, it produces zinc and diamonds.
Current Prize of Uranium:
$ 38/lb
Oil
Finally, the one that we are most related with; Oil. Africa produces a tenth of the world’s oil which is about 9.4
million barrels per day. In 2011, 15% of Nigeria’s GDP was made up of proceeds
from sales of crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products. With a
total reserve of 37 billion barrels of crude oil, Nigeria can supply crude oil
for 40 years. Other countries with huge crude oil deposits are Angola, Algeria,
Lybia, Egypt etc
Current Prize of Crude
Oil: $ 102.47/barrel
It is time for us to have a rethink and stop fueling the world by starting production of these items here in Africa. We have the money if our leaders stop embezzling our money and mismanaging our resources.
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