2.

Natural Resources

2.1. Defining Natural Resources

The meaning of natural resources has kept changing over the years. The nature of the change has been
characterized by divergences in disciplinary conceptualizations of the meaning of resources. Schools of
thought such as ecology, sociology and environmental science define natural resources from disciplinary
perspectives. For example, sociology and economics view natural resources from a humanistic and
purely economic sense. Such definitions consider natural resources as material sources of wealth such as
timber, mineral deposits, or water that occur in a natural state. Such materialistic definitions also
embrace an economic perspective. Economic perspectives of natural resources consider the commercial
value of natural resources and the industries that they support. In this sense, economic theory considers
that private ownership of natural resources tends to produce efficient consumption because the profit
motive imposes realistic pricing. This materialistic and exploitative dimension of resources (as seen
from the perspective of economic theory) is the basis of conflicts associated with the use of natural
resources.

In simple words, natural resources are natural assets (raw materials) occurring in nature that can be used
for economic production or consumption. Natural resources can also be defined as the resources that exist
naturally on the earth planet independent of human actions for its generation or production. It refers to
any source of wealth that occurs naturally, such as land, water, soil, plant, animals and minerals,
especially, fossil fuels, coal, etc. They are the natural capital out of which other forms of capitals are
made. These resources are found in the environment and are developed without the intervention of
humans. They are known as natural resources because they provide for the basis of life on earth.

2.2. Classification of Natural Resources

a. Biotic & Abiotic (basis of origin)
Any life form that lives within nature is a Biotic Resource, like humans, animals, plants, etc. In contrast,
an abiotic resource is that which is available in nature but has no life; like metals, rocks, and stones.
Both biotic and abiotic resources can be renewable or non-renewable.

b. Renewable & Non-renewable (renewability)

Renewable resources are almost all elements of nature which can renew themselves. For e.g. sunlight,
wind, water, forests and likewise. Renewable resources, such as forests and fisheries, can be replenished
or reproduced relatively quickly. The highest rate at which a resource can be used sustainably is the
sustainable yield. Some resources, such as sunlight, air, and wind, are called perpetual resources because
they are available continuously, though at a limited rate. Their quantity is not affected by human
consumption. Many renewable resources can be depleted by human use, but may also be replenished,
thus maintaining a flow. Some of these, such as agricultural crops, take a short time for renewal; others,
such as water, take a comparatively longer time, while still others, such as forests, take even longer.
Dependent upon the speed and quantity of consumption, overconsumption can lead to depletion or total
and everlasting destruction of a resource. Important examples are agricultural areas, fish and other
animals, forests, healthy water and soil, cultivated and natural landscapes. Such conditionally renewable
resources are sometimes classified as a third kind of resource, or as a subtype of renewable resources.

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Conditionally renewable resources are presently subject to excess human consumption and the only
sustainable long term use of such resources is within the so-called zero ecological footprint, wherein
human use less than the Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate.

While, non-renewable resources, are limited in their quantity. Like fossil fuels and minerals. Though
these resources take millions of years to form, they would eventually get over within our lifetime if we
use continuously. Non-renewable resources are formed over very long geological periods. Minerals and
fossils are included in this category. Since their rate of formation is extremely slow, they cannot be
replenished, once they are depleted. Out of these, the metallic minerals can be re-used by recycling
them, but coal and petroleum cannot be recycled.

c. Stage of development
1. Potential resources: Potential resources are those natural resources which are already easily
available but humans are yet to discover their real power. For example, solar and wind energy
are two natural resources, which have a high potential for human life. Though we are using it,
we can use these even more in the future once we understand their true potential. Similarly, if a
country has petroleum in sedimentary rocks, it is a potential resource until it is actually drilled
out of the rock and put to use.
2. Actual resources: Actual resources also known as developed resources are those resources which
humans have discovered and developed over a long time. They have already been surveyed,
their quantity and quality has also been determined and are currently being used. . Most of the
water, fossil fuel, minerals, plants and animals that we use for our need today, are actual
resources. The development of actual resources is dependent on technology.
3. Reserve resources: Reserve resources are those actual resources which we are not extracting
them at present in spite of technological availability. They are stored to meet world’s future
requirements. Storing of water in dam to meet energy requirement such as generating electricity
in future is an example of reserve resources.
4. Stock resources: Stock resources are those resources for which presently there is no technology
to extract them. These are resources that have been surveyed, but cannot be used due a lack of
technology. For example, Water consists of Hydrogen and Oxygen which are inflammable but
we do not know the technology to extract energy from these elements.
d. Distribution
Ubiquitous resources are found everywhere (for example air, light, and water). Localized resources are
found only in certain parts of the world (for example metal ores and geothermal power).

e. Exhaustibility
Natural resources vary greatly in their location, quantity and quality. For instance, a particular forest
type may occur only in certain countries. In addition, the geographical area covered by forest and wood
quality may differ widely in different countries. Some resources can be reused after being used once. A
convenient classification of resources is based upon their exhaustibility and renewability. Basically
resources can be categorized as Inexhaustible and Exhaustible.

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  Inexhaustible resources
Inexhaustible resources are available in unlimited quantities on the earth.
While some inexhaustible resources remain virtually unaffected by human impact, many others may
show some changes in their quality though their quantity may remain unchanged. Resources like
solar energy, wind power, tide power, rainfall, and even atomic energy, cannot be exhausted
significantly at global level due to human activities. Such resources may sometime be locally
affected by human activities; for example, pollution may change the quality of air.

 Exhaustible resources
A large number of natural resources are exhaustible, i.e. they have finite supply on the earth and can
be exhausted if used indiscriminately. Broadly, the exhaustible resources can be either renewable or
non-renewable.

2.3. Renewable Resources vs. Non-Renewable Resources

Renewable resources are those resources that continue to exist despite being consumed or can
replenish themselves over a period of time even as they are used. They include the sun, wind, water,
geothermal, and biomass. The disadvantage of renewable resources is that they may not be available
for use when needed. For example, the ability to collect and use solar energy is limited at night and
when the sky is overcast. The continued availability of water depends on ongoing precipitation and
weather conditions. Renewable resources are considered to have less of a negative impact on the
environment. Renewable resources are natural resources that replenish themselves over time or exist
on a continual basis. In recent years, they have been of special interest for the vital role they can play
in replacing non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels in the production of energy. They are also

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seen as having less of a negative impact on the environment. Of course, renewable resources were
used for thousands of years before non-renewable resources such as coal and oil began to be used
extensively in the late 19th century.

Non-renewable resources are those resources that are considered finite due to the extremely long
time it takes for nature to create them. Once depleted, they become unavailable. They include coal,
natural gas, and oil. The advantage of non-renewable resources is that they are readily available now
and the infrastructure for their use exists to produce power on demand. However, they have a
greater, negative environmental impact than renewable resources. The heat trapped by carbon
dioxide gas when coal and oil are burned contributes to the atmosphere's rising temperature and
global climate change. Activists, consumers, and government leaders promote renewable energy as a
way to generate needed power without the emissions that are warming the planet and threatening life
on earth.

2.4. Renewable Natural Resources

2.4.1. What are renewable natural resources?
Some of the earth's examples include fresh water, soil, timber, solar energy, and wind.
Renewable resources can be replaced naturally, despite being depleted by humankind. A
renewable resource is a resource of which there is an endless supply because it can be
replenished. On the other hand, non-renewable natural resources such as metal ores, fossil fuels,
and earth minerals have a finite supply. Other natural resources are considered renewable even
though some time and effort must go into their renewal. In addition, most precious metals are
considered renewable because they are reusable. Since they are not destroyed during their
extraction and use, they can be recycled. The term renewable resource refers to a resource that
replenishes itself naturally over a span of time. This means that it can be used without worry that
it will be depleted permanently. Renewable resources are of particular interest as sources of
renewable energy.

A renewable resource are resources that can be replenished naturally over time. As a result,
renewable natural resources are sustainable despite their consumption by humankind.
Renewable resources are considered especially important for their potential to replace non-
renewable, or finite, resources in the production of energy. Additionally, renewable resources
can offer cleaner energy solutions than those provided by non-renewable resources such as coal
and fossil fuels. Examples of renewable resources include the sun, wind, water, the earth's heat
(geothermal), and biomass. Water is also considered a renewable natural resource, as long as
there is precipitation. Renewable resources are those with supply not diminished by use,
including solar power, wind power and hydroelectric energy.

2.4.2.Understanding Renewable Resources

Changing climate patterns have shown the need for conservation efforts to protect water
supplies. Unlike renewable resources, once a non-renewable resource is depleted, it cannot be
recovered. As the human population continues to grow and finite resources become increasingly
scarce, the demand for renewable resources increases.

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 The demand for renewable resources is increasing as the human population continues to grow.
Energy created by renewable resources is considered virtually unlimited because of the ability of
these resources to regenerate naturally. Renewable energy can lessen the strain on the limited
supply of fossil fuels, which are considered non-renewable resources. Using renewable
resources on a large scale is costly and more research is needed to make them cost-effective.
Regardless of the renewable nature of some resources, conservation efforts are important, e.g.,
where water is concerned.

2.4.3. Renewable resources used for energy

Renewable resources such as hydropower and wood have been used earlier than nonrenewable
resources such as fuel. In fact, they were the two primary renewable energy resources up to the
1990s. Renewable energy production has come increasingly from biomass, geothermal, solar,
water, and wind resources.

Renewable resources that can replace fossil fuels in the production of energy are a major focus
of nations around the world. The challenges for successful renewable energy production include
reliability and expense. A great deal of research is taking place to determine the viability and
best implementation of renewable energy on a mass scale.

The Paris Climate Accord is an agreement between over 180 countries to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and limit the global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6
Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by the year 2100. On Jan. 20, 2021, President Joe
Biden signed an executive order for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Agreement after the Trump
administration withdrew from it on Nov. 4, 2020.

a. Solar energy

Sunlight is a widely recognized renewable resource. In fact, it has been used throughout human
history to warm shelters, dry and cook foods, and heat water. Different technologies exist and
continue to be developed to collect and convert solar radiation into heat energy that can be used for
various purposes. For example solar photovoltaic (PV) devices, or solar cells, change sunlight into
electricity. Depending on the number of solar cells in use, they can power small appliances or
provide the electricity for many homes. The challenge with using sunlight for our energy needs is
that it can vary and, at times, be unreliable. The availability of sunlight depends on time of day,
existing weather conditions, season of the year, and geographic location.

b. Wind

In earlier years, windmills were used across the to capture energy and pump water from wells. They
still exist in some farming areas to provide livestock with water. Today, wind is harnessed to
produce electricity. Wind flows over blades in wind turbines. The blades turn and that drives an
electric generator. In turn, that generates electricity. Typically, wind turbines do not produce
emissions capable of polluting the air or water. Also, they don't need to be cooled by water. Though

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rare, they can have some negative effects on the environment if they leak lubricating fluids or catch
fire. They can also impact bird life and species.

c. Water

Hydropower is the energy produced by water. It was an early renewable source of energy even
before it was used to generate electricity. For example, hydropower turned paddle wheels on rivers
to mill grain and lumber. Changes in precipitation and lack of water due to droughts can affect
hydropower production. Today most of the hydroelectricity is produced in facilities located at large.

d. Geothermal

Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that uses the earth's heat to generate power. Hot springs
heated by the earth have been used for centuries for bathing. Geothermal energy has also been used,
and still is used for local heating systems. Geothermal energy is used to generate electricity as well.
Power plants for this purpose are built below ground, within approximately a mile of the earth's
surface.

e. Biomass

Renewable organic products that produce energy are referred to as biomass. The process of
photosynthesis uses energy from the sun to convert biomass resources into chemical energy.
Biomass renewable resources include wood and wood waste, agricultural crops and waste (which are
mainly used for biofuel), municipal waste including paper, cotton, food, and yard waste, and animal
manure and sewage. Biofuel refers to liquid fuels and blending components produced from
feedstock biomass materials. Most biofuels are used as transportation fuels, but they may also be
used for heating and electricity generation. In recent years, renewable resource are becoming more
prevalent as an alternative to non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Although
prices are still high for biofuel, some experts project that as the prices of fossil fuels increase, the
price of biofuel will become more competitive.

2.4.4. Special Considerations on renewable resources

Renewable resources have become a focal point of the environmental movement, both politically
and economically. Energy obtained from renewable resources puts much less strain on the limited
supply of fossil fuels, which are non-renewable resources. The problem with using renewable
resources on a large scale is that they are costly and, in most cases, more research is needed to
determine how to use them most cost-effectively. The first major international accord to curb carbon
dioxide emissions and global warming was the Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997. More recently,
global powers met in Paris in 2015 to pledge emissions reductions and focus on higher reliance on
renewable resources for energy. Energy taxes place a surcharge on fossil fuels. The hope is that the
prices of energy options produced by renewable resources will become more attractive and
encourage consumer interest. Green mutual funds support eco-friendly and sustainable companies by
investing in them and helping to promote environmental awareness. Due to the finite nature of coal

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and oil, plus the threat from climate change, the world community is focusing on the greater use of
renewable resources to meet energy needs.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions and
greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. The essential tenet of the Kyoto Protocol is that
industrialized nations needed to lessen the amount of their CO 2 emissions. The protocol was adopted
in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, when greenhouse gases were rapidly threatening our climate, life on the
earth, and the planet itself.

2.5. Nonrenewable Natural Resources

2.5.1. What are nonrenewable natural resources?

The term nonrenewable resource refers to a natural substance that is not replenished with the
speed at which it is consumed. As such, a nonrenewable resource is a finite resource.
Nonrenewable resources are extracted directly from the Earth. Humans constantly draw on the
reserves of these substances while the formation of new supplies takes geological times. Fossil
fuels have been used since the late 1880s to produce the energy we use. Examples of
nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal. Beyond their limited
supply, energy sources such as fossil fuels damage the environment when produced and
consumed and contribute to global warming.

2.5.2.Understanding Nonrenewable Resources

Nonrenewable resources come directly from the earth. This can be directly from the ground or a
mine. The reserves of these substances took billions of years to form, and it will take billions of
years to replace the supplies used. As such, the supplies of nonrenewable resources are finite and
cannot be replaced. Humans extract these resources in gas, liquid, or solid form and then convert
them to suit their needs.

Crude oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium are nonrenewable resources. These are all processed
into products that can be used commercially. For instance, the fossil fuel industry extracts crude
oil from the ground and converts it to gasoline. Fossil fuel liquids also are refined into
petrochemical products that are used as ingredients in the manufacture of literally hundreds of
products from plastics and polyurethane to solvents.Some types of groundwater are considered
nonrenewable resources if the aquifer is unable to be replenished at the same rate at which it's
drained.

Most societies are heavily dependent on nonrenewable resources, especially for energy. It is
estimated that about 80% of all of the world's energy is consumed using fossil fuels. Not only
does this put a huge strain on the available supply but it also has a major impact on the
environment. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which leads to climate change.

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2.6. Principal Natural Resources
Amongst the earth`s resources the following contribute significantly to human welfare: (i) Forests (ii)
Water (iii) Minerals (iv) Food (v) Energy and (vi) Land.
a. Forests
Approximately one-third of the earth’s total land area is covered by tree species called forests. The
forests are storehouse of biodiversity and provide important environmental services to humanity.
These services originate from the following key functions of forests.
i. Productive functions: include production of wood, fruits and a wide variety of compounds,
such as resins, alkaloids, essential oils, latex, pharmaceuticals, etc.
ii. Protective functions: include conservation of soil and water; preventing drought, sheltering
against wind, cold, radiation, noise, sights and smells
iii. Regulative functions: involve absorption, storage and release of gases (CO 2, O2), water,
mineral elements and radiant energy. Such regulative functions improve atmospheric and
temperature conditions, and enhance the economic and environmental value of the landscape.
Forests effectively regulate floods and drought, and the global biogeochemical cycles,
particularly of carbon.

b. Water Resource
About three-fourth of the earth’s surface is occupied by oceans which contain about 97.5 % of the
earth’s water in strongly saline condition. The rest 2.5% is fresh water, and not all of this is available
for direct human use. Most of the fresh water is frozen as polar or glacial ice (1.97%). Remaining
fresh water occurs as ground water (0.5%) and water in lakes and rivers (0.02%), soil (0.01%) and
atmosphere (0.0001%). Thus, only a small fraction of fresh water is available for human
consumption. More so, the distribution of fresh water is geographically uneven varying greatly from
country to country and even within a country from one region to another.
c. Mineral Resources
Minerals essential to our industrialized society and daily life are non-renewable resources. Due to the
increase in industrialization, the consumption of minerals has increased tremendously all over the
world. The minerals now in short supply (e.g. silver, copper, mercury, tungsten, etc) will probably be
exhausted within next 20 to 100 years. Even the minerals that are relatively plentiful, e.g. iron and
aluminum, will become extremely expensive because of the depletion of large, rich and easily
accessible deposits of these metals. Minerals can be metallic, e.g. iron, copper, gold, etc. or non-
metallic, e.g. sand, stone, salt, phosphates, etc.

d. Food Resources
It is estimated that one or more parts of about 30,000 plant species can be eaten by people; however,
interestingly only 15 plant and 8 animal species supply as much as 90% of food eaten by us. In fact,
only four crops (namely wheat, rice, corn and potato) together account for more of the world’s total
food production than all other crops combined. Two-third of the world human population survives on
a diet of grains, mainly rice, wheat and corn. Perhaps the large portion of the global community
cannot afford meat products. With rise in income due to development, the grain consumption
generally increases because people consume more of meat, eggs and milk produced by grain eating
livestock.

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 e. Energy Resources
Future energy needs of rapidly expanding human population will demand the exploitation of most
energy sources. Broadly, energy resources can be recognized as non-renewable or renewable. Nuclear
energy is mainly obtained from the nuclear fission Burning fossil fuels for energy has negative
environmental consequences such as global warming, air pollution, acid rain and oil spills. With the
current state of technology, the generation of renewable energy is often more expensive than energy
produced by fossil fuels or nuclear energy; however, with technological advances, the costs of
renewable energy is expected to decrease. Among the renewable energy sources, the most important
one is solar energy. The other renewable energy resources are hydropower, wind, geothermal energy,
ocean waves and tidal energy.

f. Land Resources
Earth’s one-fourth area is formed by land that is largely covered with natural forests, grasslands,
wetlands, and manufactured urban and rural settlements along with agriculture. Low-lying areas
covered with shallow water are called wetlands. The wetlands are transitional between terrestrial and
aquatic areas. Soil is the upper weathered crust of earth that supports plant growth. From all land
resources soil is of critical importance.

2.7. Natural Resource Rich Countries

2.7.1.World’s top 10 countries with the highest natural resource reserves

1. Russia

Russia's natural resources reserves are worth $75 trillion by Statista's estimate. This amount
incorporates, among other things, coal, oil, natural gas, gold, timber, and rare earth metals. Russia's
Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment produced a much lower estimate of $910 billion in
2019. Russia holds the world's largest proved natural gas reserves at 1.32 quadrillion cubic feet,
accounting for nearly 20% of the global total as of 2020. Russia also has the second largest gold reserves
at 6,800 tons, or more than 12% of global total as of 2021. Russia was the world's third-largest crude oil
producer at 12% of global supply in 2020. Russia's proved oil reserves were the world's sixth largest at
an estimated 107.8 billion barrels. In industrial diamonds, the country accounted for a third of 2021
global production and 61% of the commodity's reserves.

2. United States

The estimated value of natural resources in the U. S. is $45 trillion, almost 90% of which are timber and
coal. In fact, the U.S. is the leading producer of coal. As of 2020, it had the largest proven coal reserves
in the world. Other resources include substantial copper, gold, oil, and natural gas deposits. Also making
the list are lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, iron, mercury, nickel,
potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, and arable land.

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3. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a small country in the Middle East and is slightly larger than Mexico. Saudi Arabia has
$34.4 trillion worth of natural resources—notably oil. The nation has been a leading exporter ever since
oil was discovered in 1938. With 15% of the world's reserves as of 2020, the country's economy depends
heavily on its oil exports. However, natural gas capacity and processing has risen since 2015 while that
for oil has decreased. Saudi Arabia's other natural resources include copper, feldspar, phosphate, silver,
sulfur, tungsten, and zinc.

4. Canada

Fourth on the list is Canada. This vast country has an estimated $33.2 trillion worth of natural
resources. It has the third-largest oil deposits after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. The commodities that
the country owns include industrial minerals, such as gypsum, limestone, rock salt, and potash, as well
as energy minerals, such as coal and uranium. Metals in Canada include copper, lead, nickel, and zinc,
and precious metals like gold platinum, and silver. Canada is a leading producer of natural gas.

5. Iran

Iran's natural resources are worth an estimated $27.3 trillion. In 2020, this country was the fifth-largest
crude oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It was the world's
third-largest natural gas producer in 2019. Other natural resources include coal, chromium, copper, iron
ore, lead, manganese, zinc, and sulfur.

6. China

China has natural resources estimated to be worth $23 trillion. Ninety percent of China's resources are
coal and rare earth metals. Timber is another major natural resource found in the country, as is arable
land. In addition, due to its natural resource of water, it has the world's greatest hydropower
potential. Other resources that China possesses include rice, oil and natural gas, and immense amounts
of metals such as gold and aluminum.

7. Brazil

Brazil has natural resources worth $21.8 trillion including gold, iron, oil, and uranium. In 2019, Brazil
was the eighth-largest oil producer in the world. A 2018 estimate found that 61.9% of its land was
forested and 23.5% was permanent pasture. Its mining industry focuses on bauxite, platinum, copper,
gold, iron, and tin. Timber is also a valuable natural resource. Brazil has an immense installed capacity
of hydroelectric power production.

8. Australia

Australia has an estimated $19.9 trillion in natural resources that include coal, timber, copper, iron ore,
gold, and uranium. Australia, which is about 80% the size of the United States, is a large producer of oil
and liquefied natural gas. Its proved oil reserves measured 2.4 billion barrels at the end of 2021.

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The country is also the largest net exporter of coal, with 29% of global coal exports. Its other natural
resources include aluminum, iron, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth
elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, and diamonds.

9. Iraq

Iraq possesses $15.9 trillion in natural resources. Its desert terrain holds petroleum, natural gas,
phosphates, and sulfur. Iraq is the second-largest crude oil producer in OPEC. It ranks as the world’s
fifth-largest holder of proved crude oil reserves and it depends on the export of crude oil for a major
amount of its revenues.

10. Venezuela

This South American country has natural resources estimated at $14.3 trillion. They include iron, natural
gas, and oil. As of 2019, it was the fourth-largest oil producing member of OPEC. In 2020, it had the
largest proved oil reserves on the globe. It also has the tenth-largest reserves of natural gas. Other natural
resources include iron ore, gold, bauxite, hydropower, and diamonds.

2.7.2.Top 10 African countries richest in natural resources

1. Nigeria

Almost essential economy of the continent, it is the leading producer and exporter of crude oil. Also, it is
the fifth Oil Producer in the world in the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). Oil
thus represents 40% of the country’s gross domestic product. It also has other under-exploited natural
resources such as gas, coal, gold, and bauxite. Employing 60% of the working population, its agricultural
sector also remains under-exploited.

2. Botswana

The world’s leading producer of diamonds (by value), the majority of which are gem quality. He alone
owns 35% of African diamonds. Beside these diamonds, gold, nickel, soda ash and copper are mined
there.

3. South Africa

It is a nation with a huge, diverse mineral potential. It is notably world number one in the production of
chromium, manganese, platinum, vanadium, vermiculite, and number two in the production of ilmenite,
palladium, rutile and zirconium.

4. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Every mobile phone contains cobalt, and the DRC is the world’s largest producer. It is one of the giant
producer of diamonds and copper in Africa, with respectively 34 and 13% of the total production of the
continent. Finally, its mineral deposits are estimated at $ 24 trillion.

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5. Namibia

It has an annual income of which a quarter comes from uranium receipts. Its diverse mining industry is on
the rise, with significant sales increasing year on year.

6. Mozambique

A major player in African aluminum production, with 32% of the total. It also exploits gas and coal.

7. Zambia

The main producer of copper on the continent, it is believed to house between 65 and 77% of the copper
supply. An excellent conductor of heat, it is mainly used for electrical wiring in building construction.
Allied with iron and other metals, it gives brass and bronze. The country is able to create jobs for its
citizens, thus contributing to the gross domestic product.

8. Niger

Most commonly used in the nuclear power industry for power generation; its uranium represents 44% of
the continent’s supply. Its exports represent 40% of the country’s total.

9. Zimbabwe
It has the second largest platinum deposit in the world. Its rich lands are 60% made up of ancient rocks,
industrial minerals, mineral resources and base metals.

10. Egypt

Predicted to be one of the most powerful economies by 2030, Egypt owns major gas fields in the
Mediterranean. The country has made structural investments in various sectors, including power
generation, and the establishment of numerous industrial zones.

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