Published by World Tibet Network News - Wednesday, January 03, 1996

By Conrad Richter

TORONTO, Dec, 31, CTC -- In a article in a Chinese propaganda magazine, China's Tibet, the mineral wealth of the Tibet Autonomous Region has been valued at 650 billion yuan. According to Dondui Namgyi, director of the Tibet Mining Bureau, 94 kinds of minerals have been discovered in 1,719 locations in the TAR, 39 boasting "impressive reserves." Twelve of the reserves are the largest in China, including chromite, corundum, crystal, copper, volcanic ash, magnesite, sulphur, boron, mica, arsonium, graphite and crystal graphite.

Ten large and 10 medium-sized mines rank first in proven reserves in China, including copper at Yulong, chromite at Norbusa, chromite at Xanggarshan, salt lake boron, and mines containing lithium, cesium, and rubidium. The copper mine at Yulong and the salt lake mines are "up to world level in terms in reserves." Some 100 salt lakes have been surveyed with those at Pangkog, Dujiar, Chabyer Caka and Chaglaka "found to boast good industrial value." Some 100 sites with "impressive reserves" of gold have been found.

There are 145 mining enterprises employing 5,000 people are extracting chromium, boron, copper, lead, zinc, iron, gold, mineral water, coal, limestone, jade, crystal, antimony, koalin clay, volcanic ash, clay, salt and stone slabs.

In 1994, the TAR produced 115,000 tons of chromite, 23,200 tons of borax, 10,300 tons of mineral water, 27,000 tons of lead and zinc, 20.88 kg of gold sand, 5,800 tons of coal and 310,000 tons of limestone. This production was valued at 130 million yuan, or one-third of Tibet's industrial output. The Norbusa chromite mine is producing 50,000 tons of chromite a year.

There are significant geothermal energy resources: the Yangbajain geothermal field placing 12th in the world in power output, enough to meet 40-50% of Lhasa's electrical needs. More geothermal plants are planned at Yangyi, Nagqu, Lungju and Latogka.

In another article by Cheng Fan in the same issue of China's Tibet (vol. 6, no. 5), forest reserves in the TAR are estimated to be 2.1 billion cubic metres, covering 7.2 million hectares. In the same article, figures are given that show what many observers have suspected: that the rate of environmental degradation is worsening rapidly as industrial activity increases. Solid industrial waste increased 22 percent in 1994 over 1993; liquid waste discharge increased 3 percent, and gas discharge increased 25 percent over the same period. Of 5,800 species of plants in Tibet, 39 are now under state protection and of 695 species of animals, 141 are under protection.