Focal Studies

Middle Eastern countries together produce over of the world's petroleum. The major producers are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, and the UAE. Others are Oman, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan.

Factors Leading to the Production of Oil in the Middle East

1. The deposits are very large. The Middle East has a very huge deposit of oil.
2. The oil is easily obtained in the Middle East. Most of the oil is obtained from underground; only a small percentage is obtained from under the sea.
3. The oil can be easily exported (transported). Most of the Middle East fields are located around the Persian Gulf (easy to export).
4. Oil drilling is the only economic activity in the Middle East.

Problems That Have Been Facing Oil Extraction in the Middle East

1. There has been technological backwardness in many countries combined with small populations and lack of local capital. This forced the international companies to involve themselves in the oil exploitation.
2. Labor unrest due to frequent conflicts that take place in the Middle East, like the Gulf War. These conflicts have made the oil mining industry become insecure. Also, there are frequent disputes that complicate oil mining because of these issues/conflicts.
3. Poor transport system from production areas to refining ports.
4. Reduction of oil reserves as it is a non-renewable resource, that is, it is decreasing day after day.

South Africa is the third world producer of diamond; the first is DRC and the second is the former USSR. Others are Botswana, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, etc. Diamond is the hardest mineral. In South Africa, mining began in 1871 at Kimberley. The methods involved in the mining process are the placer method for alluvial diamond and the shaft method for the diamond found in the deep ground.

Importance of Diamond Mining in South Africa

1. Provision of employment opportunities, not only in South Africa but also in other countries.
2. Development of social services.
3. Development of towns and cities, for example, Pretoria.
4. Increases the national income from its sales.

Problems Facing Diamond Mining in South Africa

1. Price fluctuation in the world market, which causes low profit making.
2. Labor unrest, no peace, misunderstanding among blacks and whites.
3. Shortage of food among workers caused by overpopulation around mining centers.
4. Competition from other mining countries.

Liberia is well endowed with large resources of iron ore. Liberia is the leading producer of iron ore in Africa. Iron mining is very important to the economy of Liberia. The areas with mineral deposits include the Wologosi Mountain ranges in western Liberia, Bomi Hills, Bong Mountains, and Bio mountain ranges. Open-cast method is widely used.

Factors for the Development of Iron Mining in Liberia

1. Availability of iron ore, both high grade and low grade.
2. Development of the railway from Bomi Hills to Monrovia.
3. Labor availability since West Africa has a high population.
4. The government policy favors mining industries in Liberia.

Advantages of Iron Mining in Liberia

1. It has contributed to export earnings.
2. It has encouraged the development of towns.
3. It has contributed to the development of industries, especially the steel industry and Buchanan.
4. The mining industry has stimulated the development of social services like schools, roads, hospitals, shops, and police stations.
5. It has led to the improvement of the port facilities such as Buchanan.
6. Iron mines have provided a market for the locally produced foodstuffs.
7. It has stimulated the development of infrastructure like the railway system, etc.
8. Employment opportunities.

Problems Facing Iron Mining in Liberia

1. Competition from other countries like South Africa, which produce iron.
2. There is exhaustion of deposits in the mining areas.
3. Poor transport from other West African countries.
4. The deposits are scattered.
5. Civil war between the government and rebels.

Sweden is endowed with iron minerals. It is among the Scandinavian countries. Areas where iron mining takes place include places around Koruna and other mining centers at Gullivane and Suapavaara.

Factors for the Development of Iron Mining in Sweden

1. The development of the railway stimulates the iron mining industry.
2. High market in Europe due to the developed industry, especially in Germany.
3. Power supply from the great hydroelectric power at Porjus, etc.
4. The use of advanced technology.
5. The government supports industrial development.
6. Constant water supply needed in the cooling of engines and cleaning.
7. Availability of high-grade iron deposits.

Importance of Iron Industry in Sweden

1. Creation of employment opportunities.
2. Has stimulated the development of transport and communication.
3. It has promoted agriculture, forestry, and tourism.
4. International trade has expanded.
5. Towns have developed due to the contribution of iron ore mining.
6. Social services have improved to a great extent.
7. It has led to the development of heavy industries including steel and iron industry, as well as car and ship building industry. Volvo and Scania cars are produced in Sweden.

Problems Facing Iron Industry in Sweden

1. Formation of ice in winter at the Luck port complicated the transportation.
2. Exhaustion of some iron deposits due to excessive extraction.
3. Stiff challenge from the environmentalists who are against the current trend of fast industrial development.

In Tanzania, natural gas deposits have been discovered at Songosongo in Kilwa in 1975, but there has been a delay in realizing full exploitation of gas due to the following reasons:

1. There is low technology among Tanzanians that can be used in exploiting natural gas at Songosongo Island along the coast of the Indian Ocean.
2. Low capital to be invested since Tanzania is one of the poor countries.
3. Poor transport that can facilitate exploitation of natural gas.
4. The use of other available sources of energy like HEP and forest has delayed full extraction of natural gas from Songosongo.

Advantages of the Extraction of the Gas from Songosongo

1. It will lead to the reduction of over-dependence on gas from outside.
2. It will stimulate the development of some iron and steel industries by using the available iron deposits in Tanzania as well as scope iron materials.
3. It contributes to the promotion of environmental conservation since natural gas is clean and environmentally friendly.
4. It will lead to the creation of employment opportunities in the country so as to solve the problem of unemployment. For example, some people are now employed to dig traces and lay down the pipelines and construction of other important structures.
5. The standard of living among the people will raise due to the provision of efficient sources of energy.
6. It can stimulate exploitation of other resources like petroleum, which is expected to be present at Songosongo.
7. It can stimulate the gain of foreign currency through selling it abroad.