Mineral raw materials in Africa : iron ore

Abstract

Although Africa accounts for 17 percent of world iron-ore reserves. it contributes only about 7 percent of world iron-ore production, as is clearly shown by the production figures for the year 1975 given in table II.14. Of this 7 percent share furthermore, 78 percent is produced in only three countries, namely Liberia (40 per cent), Mauritania (16 percent) and the Republic of South Africa (22 percent). This low iron is production on the African continent relative to the known iron-ore reserves, as already observed, is due mainly to the small, and for the majority of African countries, complete absence of local consumption of iron ore in raw form. In addition, the prohibitive cost of overland transport and of shipping to overseas consumers renders exploitation of most African iron ore resources unprofitable at present. Together with all these financial difficulties, developing countries have also to face big-power politics as the competition for raw materials increases.