Chromite is the source of chromium used commercially
and as an alloying element plays an important role in metallurgy. Balochistan is
endowed with huge reserves of chromite. The first discovery was made at Muslim
Bagh and Khanozai in district Kila Saifullah in 1901.
Chromite deposits
have also been discovered in the Ras Koh Range in western Balochistan and Wad in
Khuzdar district. Zhob deposits were first discovered by Vredenburg during the
same period in the course of regional reconnaissance mapping of the
province.
“Presently, 300 to 500 tons of chromite are being produced at
Muslim Bagh and Khanozai daily. It is taken in trucks to Karachi where it is
crushed and packed in bags for export to foreign countries. The mineral is being
sold between Rs30,000 to Rs45, 000 in the local market. Price depends on chrome
content,”,A businessman associated with chromite mining in Khanozai
area.
Some nine years back the chromite was being sold between
Rs1500-2500 a ton. Its price increased on Chinese demand. Today, China is a big
market for the Balochistan chromite. Production activity in the sector directly
depends upon the export market.
“The 95 per cent of population in
Khanozai is associated with agriculture, particularly fruit
farms”,
Chromite mining has not been systematic but random and totally
disorganised. It is mined by both open pit and underground methods. In
Muslimbagh, Ras Koh Range and Wad areas, chromite is mostly mined by open pit
method. However, due to podiform nature of the chromite, underground mining is
also done. Use of donkeys for hauling the ore from underground is still in
practice. The haulage machinery is also used.
“The local mine owners deem
it cost-effective to use donkeys instead of machinery. Use of machinery costs
nearly Rs500,000 while donkey is available at Rs10,000 to Rs20,000”,
Many
businessmen have lost up to Rs2 million in mining of chromite at Khanozai and
Muslimbagh area, while others have earned quick millions by investing few
thousands only. The reason behind this huge profit and loss is the accurate
identification of potential site in the area, another local businessman said.
“Fresh geological studies and surveys need to be undertaken by the experts for
identifying the potential mining sites.”
The Provincial Inspectorate of
Mines is responsible for regulating the mining operations. Presently, a few
local companies are engaged at Muslim Bagh, sources in the department told this
scribe. The sources added that during 1970s, Pakistan Chrom Mines (PCM) project
was launched in Muslim Bagh area which was closed in 1989 due to financial
constraints and lack of locally available technical staff.
The land for
mining is allotted under the Mines Act 1923 by the Directorate of Minerals,
Balochistan . The provincial government levies 10 per cent sales
tax..
Local experts say that the government should take steps for
boosting mining operations in an organised way in view of the rising prices of
chromite in the world metal market. This would help the province to increase its
revenue generation and the country would also earn foreign exchange.
A
small quantity of chromite is consumed in producing chromite chemicals but the
bulk of production is exported to foreign countries. China and Japan have been
the major markets for Pakistan’s chromite.
There is a need to replace
primitive mining methods by modern technologies. Experts stress the need for
setting up chromite beneficiation plants, which enrich chromium content of ores
making it suitable for marketing. Such plants should be set up close to the
areas where mining operations are carried out. This will ensure availability of
raw material at hand saving transportation costs.
In 2003, SMEDA
(Balochistan) had worked on the feasibility of a beneficiation plant, capable of
producing 15,000 tones of the concentrates. The process of beneficiation of
chrome ore for high grade basic refractory involves the stages of crushing,
sizing, conveyers belts, concentrating tables and drying.
Chromite sector
has been a victim of official negligence. No serious effort was ever made to tap
its potential. Even detailed exploration of the mineral for quantification of
its reserves remained pending. Total estimated reserves of chromite in the
province are not exactly known and the government should collect its maximum
valid resource data by carrying out detailed explorations to quantify its
reserves. Funds should also be allocated to categorise its
deposits.
Chromite is an export-oriented sector. Since 1903, it is being
exported to foreign countries. The export earnings from chromite during the
period 1997-98 to 2001-02 have varied between Rs167 million to Rs404 million.
Export earnings can be increased manifold by producing high-grade concentrates
which are in great demand in the world metal market.
Pakistan still meets
her domestic requirements by importing ferroalloys, basic refractory bricks and
chromite chemicals. With the exception of producing small quantities of chromite
chemicals, the entire requirements are met through imports. The development of
value-added projects utilising indigenous ore can meet at least the domestic
requirements of chromite.