Pakistan's mineral resources, estimated to be over $6 trillion, attracted global investor interest at the Pakistan Minerals Investors Forum 2025 (PMIF2025) held recently in Islamabad on April 8th and 9th. It was attended by major international companies and government officials from Australia, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the US and other nations.
Pakistan is known to have large deposits of critical minerals from copper and gold to lithium. Canadian Mining Journal has described the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan as "Saudi Arabia of lithium". These deposits are found in various parts of the country, including Balochistan, Gilgit, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Pakistan's coastal waters. The Geological Survey of Pakistan also notes the potential of lithium in LCT-type pegmatites and super arid salt lakes. Pakistan's major lithium-bearing areas are found in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Tribal Areas (FATA), contributing about 85% of the country's lithium production.
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| Pakistan Minerals Map. Source: ResearchGate |
The Trump administration is interested in working with Pakistan to explore the potential for cooperation in meeting the US needs for critical minerals. "Critical minerals are the raw materials necessary for our most advanced technologies," said Eric Meyer, a senior official for the Department of State's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, who attended the PMIF2025 in Islamabad. He said Pakistan's "vast mineral potential" can benefit the United States as he highlighted the White House's strategic priority to secure diverse and reliable sources of critical minerals.
Eric Meyer's participation in the PMIF2025 was preceded by a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. After the call, the US State Department readout said, "The Secretary raised prospects for engagement on critical minerals and expressed interest in expanding commercial opportunities for U.S. companies".
In January of this year, Gentry Beach, an American billionaire investor and a close Trump ally, visited Pakistan to look for investment opportunities in the mining sector. Upon his return to the United States, Beach praised Pakistan government’s policies as “favorable for business and investment" and expressed keen interest in investing across various sectors. In a viral TikTok video of his speech at Trump's Florida home at Mar a Lago, Gentry said, " Last week, I had the benefit of visiting Pakistan, an amazing country.....unfortunately, the previous administration (Biden administration), burned every possible bridge they could, they even put sanctions on Pakistan, a close US ally... they (Pakistanis) have sacrificed so much for the American people....Pakistan is a country that we (US) need to build a strong bridge to and partnership with".
Pakistan has one of the world’s largest porphyry copper-gold mineral zones. The Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan province has an estimated 5.9 billion tons of copper ore. At current prices, the value of copper and gold deposits at Reko Diq in Balochistan province is nearly $200 billion. It is expected to generate $70 billion in free cash flow and $90 billion in operating cash flow over 37 years.
Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow has said he’s “super excited” about the company’s Reko Diq copper-gold development in Pakistan. Speaking about the Pakistani mining project at a conference in the US State of Colorado, the South Africa-born Bristow said “This is like the early days in Chile, the Escondida discoveries and so on”, according to Mining.com, a leading industry publication. "It has enormous upside potential". He was referring to Pakistan’s untapped discovery potential. Escondida was the first discovery of copper in Chile which is now the world's largest producer and exporter of copper. Last year, the South American country exported nearly $20 billion worth of copper.
“Copper has no substitutes,” Bristow continued. “It is as strategic as gold is precious, and we’re bringing new copper projects online just as the supply squeeze hits.” Comparing Reko Diq to Escondida, he said "walking across, there's more than one porphyry, significantly more than one, it's a real endowment for the people of Balochistan and greater Pakistan". "It (Reko Diq) is world class, a gold mine on its own and a copper mine on its own". He expects a peak of 10,000 jobs during construction and 5,500-6,000 direct jobs to operate the Reko Diq mine afterwards. It will also create a lot of indirect job opportunities in the supply chain. "We are going to demonstrate (in Balochistan) that you can do something transformatory, both socially and economically".
The biggest foreign investor in Pakistan's mining sector is Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold with a projected investment of $5 billion. It is followed by the Saudi Manara Minerals with $540 million. World Bank's investment arm IFC has committed $300 million for Reko Diq. Pakistan's state-owned OGDCL has recently announced it is increasing its investment in Reko Diq to $627 million.
The biggest challenge Pakistan faces is one of security in the remote areas where its mineral resources are located. Pakistani military chief General Asim Munir believes he can deal with it effectively. He made assurances to investors that his forces will ensure security. Another challenge is one of lack of political stability which is a matter of great concern to investors.
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Rare Earths at Reko Diq?
My only fear is that the corruption at the highest levels in the Pakistani government is going to leave nothing for the people
ReplyDeleteIsmael: "My only fear is that the corruption at the highest levels in the Pakistani government is going to leave nothing for the people"
ReplyDeleteI share your concern.
Corruption is a fact if life, particularly in the extractive industries in the developing world.
But the fear of corruption need not paralyze us. The cost of maintaining the status quo with the mineral wealth left in the ground is very high. It does not help the poor in these countries.
On the other hand, mining projects do help the residents of these places by building infrastructure, creating job opportunities and increasing access to healthcare and education.
A recent example of the positive socioeconomic impact of such projects is in Thar region. Karachi-based architect and social activist Arif Hasan has studied it.
https://www.riazhaq.com/2022/12/rural-pakistan-new-infrastructure.html
Hasan has detailed the socioeconomic impact of new infrastructure in Tharparkar district, further reinforcing what Ambassador Olson wrote about how CPEC is transforming Pakistan's least developed areas. In his book titled "Tharparkar: Drought, Development, and Social Change", author Arif Hasan has highlighted the following (excerpted from Arif Hasan's recent piece published in Dawn):
1. New roads, airports, solar panels, cell towers and mobile phones are opening up opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, education and healthcare for the Thari population.
2. New infrastructure is empowering Thari women to challenge the long established patriarchy in Tharparkar. A major change has occurred in gender relations — males are less restrictive; there is an increase in education and hygiene; women now move around without male escorts. Women are giving up old traditional clothes for more fashionable dresses.
3. Road construction in Thar that started in the Musharraf era (2000-2008) has made transportation cheaper and easier. Before these new roads, the old six-wheeler kekra (WW II era American Army truck) was the only mode of vehicular transportation in the desert. It was slow and expensive. It has now been replaced by normal Bedford trucks which are cheaper to run.
4. Bank loans to buy taxis are now available. Number of taxis operating in Thar has increased from 150 to over 400, while the qingqis in Mithi have increased from over 150 to over 300 since 2013.
5. The old kekras (old American Army 6-wheelers) have been converted into water tankers; people can now actually order one by phone, to pick up potable water from Mithi and deliver it to villages.
6. The new roads have helped substantially increase trade and commerce. Thar’s agricultural produce now reaches distant markets — six to seven trucks per day carry onions from Nagarparkar to Lahore, and vegetables and fruit from other parts of Sindh and Punjab are now easily available in Thar.
7. Roads have helped in the increase of salt and china clay mining. These have created more jobs, especially for those villages that are next to the mines. The lives of the families who have benefitted from this growth in the job market have changed and the first investments they make is in the building of pakka houses, with steel channel and brick-tiled roofs. Another important investment is in motorbikes, which makes flexible and faster mobility possible. People have sold their camels and donkeys to buy motorbikes.
8. Thari men now work in the garment industry in Karachi, where they save and send home Rs 10-12,000 a month.
9. Tourist traffic has grown in Thar with tens of thousands of people visiting the area every year after the rains and for the many religious festivals that the desert celebrates. Women producing traditional handicrafts are able to sell their wares to the tourists. This creates economic opportunities for the local population.
10. Dozens of carpentry workshops are now operating in Mithi. The carpenters have moved in from the rural areas of Thar, where they worked for the rural population, who paid them in grain.
Pakistan and Turkey to Develop Offshore Oil, Gas and other Minerals in Pakistan’s waters
ReplyDeleteNewly discovered offshore oil and gas deposits in Pakistan’s territorial seas could be brought to surface by Pakistan and Turkey.
Source: OilPrice.com
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Turkey-Pakistan-To-Explore-Worlds-Fourth-Largest-Oil-Gas-Reservoir.amp.html
The oil and gas discovery could yield additional benefits. Modern Diplomacy notes that Pakistan's marine areas are rich in natural resources including minerals such as cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements. The idea is to leverage its "blue water economy".
"The potential here goes beyond electricity, encompassing businesses such as fishing, marine biotechnology, and even ecotourism. A coordinated effort to expand these industries might give Pakistan a variety of revenue streams and employment generation, therefore strengthening its economy," the publication stated.
While Pakistan may not have the technological capabilities for deep-sea mining, there is a growing global interest in this area, with some companies exploring the potential for mining polymetallic nodules that contain valuable metals.
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Newly discovered offshore oil and gas deposits in Pakistan's territorial seas could be brought to surface by Pakistan and Turkey.
The two countries this week signed an agreement at the 2025 Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum in Islamabad to jointly bid on 40 offshore blocks. A bidding round for the granting of exploration licenses for the blocks, located in the Makran and Indus basins, was announced by the Pakistan government in February.
According to News.AZ, Pakistan's Mari Energies Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited and Pakistan Petroleum Limited will jointly participate in the offshore bidding round with Turkish state-owned enterprise Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakl??? (TPAO).
Modern Diplomacy said the finding, made during a three-year survey, compiled data that suggests it is the fourth biggest oil and gas reservoir in the world. Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Canada are the three countries with the largest proven oil reserves.
The cache is reportedly so large it could change the economic direction of Pakistan, where one in four people live in poverty.
If Pakistan's offshore reserves are that big, the obvious question is why haven't the oil majors been pestering the Pakistan government to drill them?
In a January 2024 article, Oilprice said Shell announced it was selling its Pakistan business stake to Saudi Aramco in June 2023, and an auction for 18 oil and gas blocks got a muted response from international bidders, at best. No international companies even bid on 15 of the blocks, according to The Nation.
In July [2024], the country's Petroleum Minister, Musadik Malik, told a parliamentary committee that no international companies were interested in offshore oil and gas exploration in Pakistan,and those in the country largely had the exit door in view.
It comes down to security, and risk versus reward with Malik explaining to the committee that the cost of security is a major deal-breaker because "in areas where companies search for oil and gas, they have to spend a significant amount to maintain security for their employees and assets". And security is provided by Pakistan, which has not been up to the task.
In March [2024], five Chinese engineers were killed in a suicide attack in Pakistan's northeast, when a vehicle rigged with explosives rammed into a bus transporting staff from Islamabad to the giant Dasu dam project in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The project is part of the $62-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This incident sparked a series of temporary shut-downs across other projects, as well.
Earlier that same month, insurgents attacked Chinese assets in Pakistan's southwest, storming the Gwadar Port Authority complex, which is run by China. The attacks were perpetrated by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), separatists fighting for an independent Balochistan, as reported by the Lowy Institute.
Massive Antimony reserves found in Balochistan; Gold and Copper confirmed in GB | The Express Tribune
ReplyDeletehttps://tribune.com.pk/story/2537108/massive-antimony-reserves-found-in-balochistan-gold-and-copper-confirmed-in-gb
Pakistan has made significant strides in mineral exploration, with the discovery of substantial antimony reserves in Balochistan and the confirmation of gold, copper, nickel, and cobalt deposits in Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to Express News, the discovery of antimony in Balochistan is part of a major commercial project undertaken by Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC).
The two companies have formed a 50:50 joint venture, which is expected to be officially announced at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, scheduled for April 8-9.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, significant progress has been made in securing ten mineral blocks, where surveys have confirmed the presence of gold, copper, nickel, and cobalt.
Meanwhile, efforts to explore mineral resources in Chiniot, Punjab, are ongoing, with OGDCL and the Mineral Department engaged in discussions to accelerate the process.
Pakistan is also exploring options to utilize Oman’s advanced facilities for refining antimony. Additionally, steps are being taken to align mining education with global standards to support the advancement of the sector.
To further develop the mineral sector, OGDCL is strengthening its collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and universities. Additionally, preparations are underway for remote sensing and geological surveys to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Balochistan’s newly discovered antimony reserves.
Experts believe these discoveries could play a crucial role in boosting Pakistan’s economy and enhancing the country’s mining industry.
Massive Antimony reserves found in Balochistan; Gold and Copper confirmed in GB | The Express Tribune
ReplyDeletehttps://tribune.com.pk/story/2537108/massive-antimony-reserves-found-in-balochistan-gold-and-copper-confirmed-in-gb
Pakistan has made significant strides in mineral exploration, with the discovery of substantial antimony reserves in Balochistan and the confirmation of gold, copper, nickel, and cobalt deposits in Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to Express News, the discovery of antimony in Balochistan is part of a major commercial project undertaken by Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC).
The two companies have formed a 50:50 joint venture, which is expected to be officially announced at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, scheduled for April 8-9.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, significant progress has been made in securing ten mineral blocks, where surveys have confirmed the presence of gold, copper, nickel, and cobalt.
Meanwhile, efforts to explore mineral resources in Chiniot, Punjab, are ongoing, with OGDCL and the Mineral Department engaged in discussions to accelerate the process.
Pakistan is also exploring options to utilize Oman’s advanced facilities for refining antimony. Additionally, steps are being taken to align mining education with global standards to support the advancement of the sector.
To further develop the mineral sector, OGDCL is strengthening its collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and universities. Additionally, preparations are underway for remote sensing and geological surveys to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Balochistan’s newly discovered antimony reserves.
Experts believe these discoveries could play a crucial role in boosting Pakistan’s economy and enhancing the country’s mining industry.
There is an excellent article from Arifa Noor in DAWN about this latest "mineral" hype and the penchant of successive Pakistani regimes to look for miracles and magic bullets as quick fixes for the economy rather than take the long ardorous road towards essential reforms.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.dawn.com/news/1904347/economic-miracles
Vineeth: "There is an excellent article from Arifa Noor in DAWN about this latest "mineral" hype"
ReplyDeleteI don't think the existence of huge mineral wealth in Pakistan is "hype". There's plenty of data to show that it's real.
The real issue is the large investments required to extract this wealth. Hence the focus on investors.
The key challenge for any government in Pakistan is that the environment for such investments is currently not conducive.
Making it conducive requires security for investors, both foreign and domestic, in the areas where this mineral wealth exists. The biggest factor here is the regional and international geopolitics. It's a huge ask for any government, political or military. We'll have to wait and see how far the current hybrid government in Pakistan can succeed in delivering on it.
The "hype" refers to the apparent attempts by Pakistani authorities to trumpet these mineral deposits as the next "miracle" that could save its economy after CPEC and SIFC failed to bring promised investments (as Dr Kaiser Bengali mentioned in his X post, and which Arifa Noor quoted in her article). There are many countries across the developing world that have rich deposit of minerals and other natural resources, and are yet wracked by instability and civil wars. So yes, the existence of rich natural resources by itself is no guarantor for the economic future of any country if there does not exist a conducive political and security environment to exploit them for the benefit of the local communities and the country as a whole. In Pakistan's case the added complication is that many of these mineral deposits are located in provinces or regions that are facing various instabilities.
DeleteVineeth, thank you so much for gracing us with your words of wisdom. We Pakistanis are always in awe of the wisdom we receive from you and your county men.
DeleteNow a humble request, please spare us of your words of wisdom, we are incapable of bearing the weight of such wisdom.
G. Ali.
Vineeth: "There are many countries across the developing world that have rich deposit of minerals and other natural resources, and are yet wracked by instability and civil wars"
ReplyDeleteThe progress on Reko Diq copper-gold mine project is a good indication of rising investor interest and execution.
Read this: https://www.mining-technology.com/analysis/reko-diq-breaking-down-barriers-in-pakistans-mining-industry-says-project-manager/?cf-view
The Reko Diq gold and copper mine in Pakistan has reached levels of progress as yet unseen in the project’s decades long history.
On 8 April, the mine’s updated feasibility study and conditional related phase one development capital was approved.
Following this breakthrough, Reko Diq project manager Tim Cribb spoke to Mining Technology from the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) about the next steps for the mine.
“The good thing about the project is that we have buy-in at the federal as well as the provincial level. Now that the feasibility study is complete, we have a pathway forward and can focus on the delivery of the construction and mobilising people,” he said.
Currently, the mine is jointly owned by Canadian miner Barrick Gold (50%), the Pakistan Government (25%) and the Government of Balochistan (25%).
Saudi Arabian mining fund Manara Minerals is also set to purchase a 10–20% stake valued at between $500m (SR1.88bn) and $1bn from the Pakistan Government.
The phase one approval for Reko Diq is contingent on limited recourse project financing of $3bn (C$4.26bn). If this is secured, works can commence in 2025 in line with the target for first production by the end of 2028.
In addition, the World Bank’s private investment arm, the International Finance Corporation, is providing $300m in debt financing for the mine.
According to the latest feasibility study, Reko Diq is estimated to contain 15 million tonnes of proven and probable copper reserves, as well as 26 million ounces of gold. The project will comprise two open-pit mines and a processing plant, operating over an estimated 37-year life of mine.
The mill is expected to process 45 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of ore from 2028, expanding to 90mtpa in phase two, planned from 2034.
Cribb confirmed that recent progress has been exciting, but there is still much work to be done before Reko Diq can deliver on its full potential.
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Reko Diq’s role in Pakistan’s mining landscape
As demand for critical minerals skyrockets, global attention is increasingly turning towards Pakistan’s relatively untapped reserves of 92 total discovered minerals.
Critical minerals were reportedly a key topic of discussion between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in a meeting on 7 April.
The Reko Diq project has a significant role to play in this upward trajectory, being situated in the world-renowned Tethyan copper belt near Pakistan’s borders with Iran and Afghanistan.
Cribb confirmed that despite the instabilities of the region, the site itself is “relatively peaceful”.
Barrick Gold has established social development and training programmes for the local community and employees, with the aim of building a domestic workforce of 4,000 long-term workers that are skilled in operating mining equipment. The project workforce could peak at 7,500 during construction.
The project is also expected to produce $74bn in free cash flow over the next 37 years, according to Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow.
Barrick Gold’s commitment to Reko Diq’s potential is such that chairman John Thornton cited the project in a proposal to rebrand the company to Barrick Mining to reflect its push into copper operations.
Cribb told Mining Technology that the scale of Reko Diq will “break down barriers in Pakistan’s mining supply chain, especially for future exploration and deposits”.
"The progress on Reko Diq copper-gold mine project is a good indication of rising investor interest and execution."
Delete"Cribb confirmed that despite the instabilities of the region, the site itself is relatively peaceful."
I would only say that it is never a good idea to count the chickens before they hatch. There would have been little in Reko Diq until now to attract the attention of Balochistan's militant outfits which would explain the "relative peace". Once the mine starts operations it could be a different story. I do not know the geography of the area or the ground situation over there, but the remoteness of the place and its proximity to Iranian and Afghan borders seem to be a vulnerability that could be exploited by militant groups.
And then there is always a question about how much of the profits from the mine would end up benefitting the local communities or Pakistani economy itself and how much would end up in the pockets of foreign investors and the political class. But that is a common concern about such mining operations in India and many other developing nations as well and not anything specific to Pakistan.
Brofessor sb, You have been writing about shale gas, Thar coal, Reqo Diq mines, Gwadar Port since 2010 or thereabouts. Yet nothing much has materialised till date. Hopefully, this time it will be different. Regards
DeleteMajumdar: "You have been writing about shale gas, Thar coal, Reqo Diq mines, Gwadar Port since 2010 or thereabouts. Yet nothing much has materialised till date"
ReplyDeleteI think there has been progress on many of these fronts. Thar coal is now being mined and used in power generation. Reko Diq is also moving forward after resolving legal issues.
Other areas such as petroleum extraction and Gwadar port will move forward too, but not soon enough to make a near-term impact.
All these projects will have a huge long-term positive impact on the economy and the lives of many ordinary Pakistanis.
U.S. Eyes Pakistan’s Mineral Wealth – Foreign Policy
ReplyDeleteBy Michael Kugelman
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/16/pakistan-mineral-reserves-investment-trump-security/
Pakistan's mineral reserves, which include massive copper and gold deposits as well as critical minerals such as lithium, are estimated to stretch across more than 230,000 square miles—more than twice the size of the United Kingdom.
Kuwait joins Pakistan offshore bids
ReplyDeletehttps://tribune.com.pk/story/2541890/kuwait-joins-pakistan-offshore-bids
ISLAMABAD:
Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (Kufpec) has decided to participate in Pakistan's offshore bidding round. Already, the company has been in Pakistan since 1987 and has invested $1.5 billion cumulatively.
A high-level meeting was held between Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and Ali Taha Al-Temimi, Country Manager of Kufpec and Chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Exploration & Production Companies Association (PPEPCA). The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration in Pakistan's oil and gas sector, enhancing exploration activities, and addressing key challenges to enhance exploration activities.
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Ali Taha Al-Temimi, representing Kufpec – a leading international exploration company and a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation – appreciated the government's efforts and shared insights on optimising hydrocarbon exploration to meet Pakistan's growing energy demand. He apprised that Kufpec is aiming to participate in the offshore bidding round of Pakistan. Moreover, he briefed on the ongoing activities of the company in the country. Since 1987, Kufpec has invested $1.5 billion cumulatively.
As Pakistan bets on a mining boom, can it equal Indonesia’s nickel success? | South China Morning Post
ReplyDeletehttps://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3307992/pakistan-bets-mining-boom-can-it-equal-indonesias-nickel-success
Pakistan is poised to join the ranks of the world’s top producers of critical metals by the end of the decade, thanks to an April 8 deal between the government and Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold. Together, they aim to unlock the vast potential of Reko Diq, home to the world’s largest known untapped deposits of copper and gold with near-term production potential.
Chinese firms are already on the ground, Saudi Arabia is on the verge of investing, and the United States is clamouring for access to Pakistan’s mineral wealth. Analysts say this convergence of global interest gives Pakistan a rare chance to break free of its decades-long cycle of fleeting economic booms followed by prolonged stagnation.
“If Pakistan plays its cards right, it can leverage US-China competition to its advantage,” said Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst. He argued that the country could secure investment deals from both powers, maximising returns from the expected influx of capital.
But the opportunity comes with risks. Pakistan faces mounting pressure to favour either China or the US in lucrative mining deals, Kugelman warned. This, in turn, could deepen Islamabad’s entanglement in global rivalries, “depriving it of the agency it would want to navigate geopolitical competition to its advantage”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif painted a more optimistic picture, however. Following the Barrick agreement, he said Pakistan could finally “say goodbye” to decades of reliance on the International Monetary Fund and other financial institutions – provided the country could fully capitalise on its mineral resources.
“With the right reforms, planning and integrated policies, that’s possible,” said Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a New York-based think tank. She called the current moment “a unique opportunity” for Pakistan, not just to revitalise its beleaguered economy “but also to reclaim some of its relevance on the global stage” – a relevance that has waned since the US withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021.
The Indonesia model
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, in a recent address to business leaders in Lahore, likened Pakistan’s copper reserves – part of the Tethyan metallogenic belt stretching from Europe to Southeast Asia – to Indonesia’s transformative nickel industry. Last year, Indonesia’s nickel exports generated US$22 billion.
“Copper is to us what nickel has been to Indonesia,” Aurangzeb said on April 12.
The potential is enormous. A feasibility study estimated that Reko Diq held more than US$60 billion worth of copper and gold. The project is expected to yield 13.1 million tonnes of copper and 17.9 million ounces of gold over its 37-year lifespan, with a quarter of the venture owned by the government of Balochistan, where the deposits are located.
Barrick, which holds a 50 per cent stake, projects US$74 billion in free cash flow over the mine’s lifetime. The first phase, requiring US$3 billion in financing from a multinational consortium led by the International Finance Corporation, is set to begin construction next year, after which exports are expected to commence in 2028. By 2029, operators plan to process 45 million tonnes of ore annually, with capacity doubling by 2034 following an additional US$3.5 billion investment.