The idea is so unusual that we must pause to consider it: could mining (the extraction of metals from the ground) help in the demining (removal of explosive devices from the ground) in Afghanistan?
This question is prompted by a report that reads in part:
In this Taliban stronghold in the mountains south of Kabul, the U.S. Army is providing the security that will enable China to exploit one of the world’s largest unexploited deposits of copper, earn tens of billions of dollars and feed its voracious appetite for raw materials. U.S. troops set up bases last month along a dirt track that a Chinese firm is paving as part of a $3 billion project to gain access to the Aynak copper reserves. The U.S. deployment wasn’t intended to protect the Chinese investment — the largest in Afghanistan’s history — but to strangle Taliban infiltration into the capital of Kabul. But if the mission provides the security that a project to revive Afghanistan’s economy needs, the synergy will be welcome.
The very idea that US troops are being deployed (inadvertently it is true) to make it possible for the Chinese to mine copper, is outlandish. That men and women of America stand to loose their lives so the Chinese may move in under the protection of Karzai and the Taliban and grow rich wresting copper from the reported huge reserves in Afghanistan, leaves me cold.
The optimistic streak in me argues that if the US can bring peace to this torn country, and the peace enables mining to develop as an honest employer, then herald the success.
The ironic part of me smiles at the idea that mining could become the basis of the security we are told drives us to continued operations in Afghanistan.
The cynic in me tells me that only the cynic would invest in such a venture: i.e., invest in arms to pacify the country so that the Chinese may come in and invest.
The tragedian in me asks: is the US now but a paid mercenary for imperial commercial expansionist who are able to afford such services?
It would be nice to think that mining could take over from poppy growing as the primary economic activity in Afghanistan. But they will probably reclaim the tailings impoundment to become another poppy field.
It would be nice to view this report as another example of cooperation between Rio Tinto and the Chinese, undertaken in a cloak of honesty and transparency.
I cannot but wonder if there are any Chinese troops in Afghanistan helping Nato keep the peace and train the Afghans to defend themselves. And if there are none, why not: are we afraid they will take over where we leave off and become the third invader, starting with Russia, to try to bring Afghanistan into its fold?
Not that I would invest my money in mining in Afghanistan, but one must ask if there are US or Canadian companies willing, wanting, and able to explore the waste of the land of the Taliban to mine.
So many questions; so few answers. But it is Sunday and time for sundowners. Let me know if you have any of the answers or at least opinions that differ from mine–demine me.
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TITAN Demining Group (Mine Clearance Company)
Introduction:
In times of relative peace, the process of mine removal is referred to as demining. This is a thorough, time-intensive process that seeks to locate all mines so that the land area may be safely returned to normal use. It is vital that this process be exhaustive. Even if only a small handful of mines remain undiscovered, then demining can actually lead to an increase in civilian mine casualties as local people re-occupy an area they previously avoided in the belief that it has been made safe .In some situations, clearing landmines is a necessary condition before other humanitarian programs can be implemented .In this context demining is one of the tools of mine action
Demining includes mine clearance (actual removal and destruction of landmines/UXO from the ground), as well as surveying, mapping and marking of hazardous areas. The broader realm of mine action also includes advocacy, victim assistance, antipersonnel mine stockpile destruction, mine risk education and research
Organizational Background:-
TITAN is an Afghan demining company, working in private sector with an aim to save people of Afghanistan from the obliteration of mining. TITAN is registered with the department of Afghan Investment Support Agency (AISA). And it is already accredited with the United Nation Mine Coordination Centre for Afghanistan (MACCA). TITAN is a group of highly professional and dedicated staff members, who are committed to pool their efforts for the achievement of their company’s goal. TITAN is aiming to become one of the leading demining company of Afghanistan, because it has got latest equipments and technical expertise used in demining. Providing and handover of cleared land from mines will be based on National Mine Action Standards in which TITAN gained its formal accreditation.
It is TITAN’S policy to involve the local community and personnel wherever possible in the clearance projects. TITAN provides appropriate training for both administrative and field staff in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).
All operations are carried out in accordance with:
• International Mine Action Standards (IMAS)
• Country specific Technical and Safety Guidelines (TSG)
• TITAN Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs)
• Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA)
Procedure:
Once TITAN has completed a survey, intrusive or non-intrusive, the data is processed and analyzed. Any objects identified by the survey that fall within the mass and dimension range of explosive ordnance, that may be present on site, are designated as targets requiring follow up action. The criteria will be determined in consultation wideminith the client and the intended end use of the site. TITAN will deploy different teams to access and expose the target, enabling a positive identification to be made.
The method of accessing the targets will be determined by the location, depth and nature of the suspect objects as well as the ground conditions.
If targets are identified as ordnance by the site manager, an on-site threat assessment will be completed. The object will be classified according to its potential hazard and disposed of by the appropriate method. The disposal will be conducted either by TITAN or under the auspices of the relevant local authorities.
A clearance certificate and factual report will be issued, detailing the results of the survey, subsequent investigation, and clearance and disposal activity.
Goal:-
The Goal of TITAN is to stop further casualties, deaths, sufferings and provide its countrymen an environment where they can work and live their lives happily by clearing the land of Afghanistan from mines, so as to provide them with opportunities of improving its infrastructure which would play a pivotal role in development of Afghanistan in the long run.
Mission:-
TITAN has dared to say yes to the mission of shaping the future of Afghanistan by reducing threats of sufferings and guiding them towards a prosperous future.
Services:-
TITAN’s qualified and experienced staff assists in the preparation of the policy, the development and the implementation of the following:
• Minefield Clearance
• Battlefield clearance
• Stockpile destruction operations
• Provision of high quality training such as Initial Demining Training, Advance Demining Training, Demining supervision Training includes
• Demining course (DC)
• Demining predeployment course (DPC)
• Demining team leader course (DTLC)
• New concepts
[...] find umpteen news items on this same finding. Also I recall blogging about this earlier this year at this link. In that blog posting I noted the following; The United States has discovered nearly $1 [...]
Hello, sir i’m very sorry about that problem that was happended, after the war there many mine and uxo in the ground, so would like to work there because of i have been working for mine and ERW 15 years and i had experience to leadersip such as senior deminer, supervisor, commander in charge and participated lots of training cause. Thank you and best regard..!