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1 | Brazil: Niobium, National Mineral Wealth at Knock Off Prices? | Brezila : Ny Niobium, Harem-pirenena Amidy Mora |
2 | Niobium, also known as columbium, is among the most utilized metals in the world, and Brazil has the great majority of the world's niobium deposits. | Ny niobium dia isan'ireo metaly ampiasaina betsaka indrindra manerana izao tontolo izao, ka i Brezila no manana ny tahiry betsaka indrindra amin'io harena ankibon'ny tany io eto an-tany. |
3 | However, exploitation of niobium resources within Brazil raises questions about the total profit generated by private companies and public organizations. | Na izany aza, ny fitrandrahana azy any Brezila dia mampametraka fanontaniana maro mikasika izay mba vokatra entiny ho an'ireo orinasa tsy miankina na orinasam-panjakana. |
4 | According to the blog Nióbio do Brasil [pt], entirely dedicated to this metal: | Araka ny ambaran'ny bilaogy Nióbio do Brasil [teny portigey], natao manontolo ho amin'ity metaly ity, |
5 | Niobium's most common application is as an alloying element to provide better properties in steel products, especially in high-resistance and low conductivity steel utilized in automobile production and tubes for gas transmission under high pressure. | a aplicação mais importante do nióbio é como elemento de liga para conferir melhoria de propriedades em produtos de aço, especialmente nos aços de alta resistência e baixa liga usados na fabricação de automóveis e de tubulações para transmissão de gás sob alta pressão. |
6 | Print of the Periodic Table with the mythological Greek figure Niobe, who inspired the denomination of the element Niobium Nb41. Copyright Annette Haines (used with permission). | ny fampiasana tena mavesa-danja indrindra ny niobium dia ny fampidirana azy amin'ireo taharo samihafa mba hananany toetoetra ambony kokoa noho ny ‘acier', indrindra fa ho an'ny ‘acier' manana hamafisana avo ary tsy ampiasaina loatra amin'ny fanamboarana fiara na ireny fantsona be fitondràna entona manana tsindry avobe ireny. |
7 | Niobium reserves The ductile metal, represented by the symbol Nb and atomic number 41, is highly resistant and can be found in jet engines, as well as in the naval industry and high diameter tubes utilized in construction. | Ity metaly azo volavolaina ity, manana ny mari-pamantarana Nb sy ny laharana atomika 41, dia manana hamafisana faran'izay tsara ary azo jerena amin'ireny fiaramanidina ‘à réaction' mampiasa ‘turbines' ireny sy any amin'ny toeram-panamboarana sambo sy ireny fanaovana fantsona manana savaivo goavana be ireny izay ampiasaina ho an'ny asa vaventy. |
8 | Because of its growing use and increasing exploitation in the last few years, its value has also oscillated. | Noho ny fitrandrahana azy sy ny fampiasàana azy tsy mitsaha-mitombo tato ho ato, dia niova ihany koa ny vidiny. |
9 | According to data published by the American government, Brazil has around 95% of the world's niobium deposits, distributed among the states of Minas Gerais, Amazonas and Goiás. | Raha araka ireo angona [en anglais] navoakan'ny fitantànana ao Etazonia, i Brezila no manana ny 95% amin'ny tahiry erantany amin'ny niobium, ary izany dia ao amin'ny faritr'i Minas Gerais, Amazonas sy Goiás. |
10 | Roberto Silva, author of the site Economia BR, describes [pt] that: | Roberto Silva, mpanoratra ao amin'ny tranonkala Economia BR, dia manoratra [en portugais] fa, |
11 | analyzing all national deposits of niobium, (…) in relation to the sum of its measured deposits, indicated and verified, Amazonas comes in first place, where niobium deposits represent 82. 7% of the country's total and are located in the municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira. | rehefa nandalina ny fitambaramben'ny tahirim-pirenena amin'ny niobium, (…) saiky avy amin'ireo tahiry rehetra voamarina, azo eritreretina sy azo antoka, dia miavaka voalohany indrindra ny ao Amazonas, izay ny tahiriny amin'ny niobium dia manome ny 82,7% amin'ny fitambaran'ny ao Brezila manontolo ary ao amin'ny kaomina São Gabriel da Cachoeira no misy an'izany. |
12 | The ore has been commercially valued at a price of 44 US dollars/kilogram. | Tamin'ny 2011 ity harena ankibon'ny tany ity dia namidy [teny Anglisy] 44 dolara ny kilao. |
13 | For comparison, in 2007, the same metal was commercialized at an average price of 52 US dollars/kilogram. | Raha anaovana fampitahàna, ny taona 2007 io harena ankibon'ny tany io dia namidy tamin'ny salam-bidy [en anglais] 52 dolara ny kilao. |
14 | Image by Greg Robson, available in the public domain (CC BY-SA 2.0) | Sary an'i Greg Robson (CC BY-SA 2.0) |
15 | In 2006, the world production of niobium was estimated at 59,900 metric tons and Brazil produced 56,000 of this total. | Tamin'ny 2006, ny vokatra niobium eran'izao tontolo izao dia novinavinaina [teny anglisy] ho 59 900 taonina, ary Brezila no namokatra ny 56 000 taonina tamin'io. |
16 | An article published on the website of Canadian mining company Taseko Mines Limited, affirmed recently: | Ao anaty lahatsoratra iray nivoaka tao amin'ilay tranonkalan'ilay [teny anglisy] orinasa kanadiana mpitrandraka harena ankibon'ny tany Taseko Mines Limited, amafisiny fa amin'izao fotoana, |
17 | There is a growing demand for niobium. | Mitombo be ny filàna niobium. |
18 | Global annual consumption of ferro niobium is over 200 million pounds per year and growing at 5-7% per year. | Ny fanjifàna isan-taona manerana izao tontolo izao amin'ny ferro-niobium dia maherin'ny 200 tapitrisa livres isan-taona, ary mitombo 5% hatramin'ny 7% isan-taona izany. |
19 | Two hundred million pounds correspond to approximately 90,718 metric tons. | Ny 200 000 000 livres dia mifanandrify amin'ny 90 718 taonina. |
20 | While the average selling price has decreased in the last five years, exploitation and consumption of the metal has increased worldwide. | Izany hoe, na dia nidina aza ny salam-bidiny tato anatin'ny taona vitsivitsy, ny fitrandrahana sy ny fampiasàna azy kosa dia nitombo be manerana izao tontolo izao. |
21 | Pricing queries In an article written by Victor Tagora for the Revista Meio Ambiente [pt], which draws attention to niobium's strategic position in Brazil's economy, the author describes that: | Ao anaty lahatsoratra iray [teny portigey] nosoratan'i Victor Tagora ho an'ny gazetiboky Meio Ambiente, ary ao anatin'izany no andefasany fampitandremana momba ny anjara toerana stratejika tànan'ny niobium eo amin'ny toekarena Breziliana, ny mpanoratra dia miteny fa, |
22 | sources well deserving of attention indicate that unprocessed niobium ore was bought directly from the mine for 400 Reais/kg, around 255 US dollars/kg (using the current currency rate and updated to dollar's inflation). | avy aminà loharanom-baovao azo antoka no miteny fa ny harena ankibon'ny tany niobium amin'ny endrika voajanahary novinidy teny amin'ny toerana nitrandrahana azy dia 400 réaux ny kilao, eo amin'ny 255 $ ny kilao (amin'ny sandam-panakalozana ny dolara amin'ny fotoana nanoratana ny lahatsoratra) [eo amin'ny 260 €/kg tamin'ny fotoana nandikàna ity lahatsoratra ity] |
23 | Slice of a superconducting cable made from niobium-titanium alloy. | ampahanà tariby natao tamin'ny taharo niobium-titane. |
24 | Photo by Flickr user Swamibu (CC BY-NC 2.0) | Sary an'i Swamibu (CC BY-NC 2.0) |
25 | Even though the value is well above other international indicators, the author concludes that: | Na dia ambony lavitra noho izay vidiny asehon'ny sasany amin'ireo tarehimarika iraisam-pirenena aza io vidy io, manao famintinana toy izao ny mpanoratra |
26 | if Brazil exported niobium ore at this price, the annual profit would be US$ 15,300,000,000 (fifteen billion, three hundred million dollars). | Raha toa i Brezila manondrana niobium amin'io vidiny io, izany dia hanome antontam-bola US$ 15 300 000 000 isan-taona. |
27 | If we compare this amount to the official statistics, we might be surprised to see instead a total [annual profit] of US$ 16.3 million (0. | Raha ampitahaintsika amin'ny antontan'isa ofisialy io isa io, dia ho gaga isika mahita fa any amin'ny 16 300 000 dollars (izany hoe 0,1 % amin'ny isa nomena ery ambony), ary amin'ny hadiry 515 taonina (latsaky ny 1 % amin'ny fanjifàna erantany). |
28 | 1% of that value), and an [annual] weight of 515 metric tons (less than 1% of the world's consumption). | Na ohatra aza ka hanao kajy miainga amin'ny hoe 44 dolara ny kilao, sy raha raisina ny vinavina hoe 95% amin'ny vokatra erantany, dia ho tonga amin'ny antontam-bola 3 792 000 000 dolara/isan-taona isika. |
29 | Even if we calculate the same final amount by taking the value of 44 US dollars/kilogram as a base, and taking into consideration 95% of world's estimated production, we would get to a value of US$ 3,792,000,000/year. | |
30 | Such great variation of values has a lot to do with the fact that the metal is not estimated in commodity markets, such as the London Metal Exchange, but only through closed prices in transactions amongst companies. | Ireo elanelana goavana ireo dia mifandray amin'ny hoe tsy isan'izay tonga eo amin'ny tsenam-bolan'ny harena ankibon'ny tany ity vokatra ity, toy ny London Metal Exchange [teny anglisy], fa ny vidiny dia araka izay ifanarahan'ireo orinasa fotsiny ihany. |
31 | Niobium Mine in Araxá, Minas Gerais. | Toerana fitrandrahana niobium ao Araxá, Minas Gerais. |
32 | Photo by Revista Decifra-me. | Sary an'i Revista Decifra-me. |
33 | Edvaldo Tavares, Doctor and Executive Director of Sistema Raiz da Vida, clarifies in the Revista Decifra-me's website [pt] that, | Edvaldo Tavares, mpitsabo sady Tale Jeneralin'ny Sistema Raiz da Vida, dia manazava ao amin'ny tranonkalan'ny Revista Decifra-me [teny portigey], fa |
34 | In the deposits of Catalão and Araxá unprocessed niobium, extracted from the mine, costs 228.57 dollars and is sold abroad, refined, for 90 dollars. | Any amin'ireo toeram-pitrandrahana ao Catalão sy Araxá, ny niobium amin'ny endriny voajanahary, vao avy mivoaka mihitsy ny toeram-pitrandrahana, dia misanda 228,57 dolara ary amidy any ivelany, efa voadio, amin'ny sanda 90 dolara. |
35 | How can such a commercial transaction occur with a total loss for the country's population, it's in complete denial of the country's needs and indifference regarding the wellbeing of the Brazilian people. | Ahoana no misy fomba fifampiraharahana ara-barotra toy izany, izay tena manao tsinontsinona tanteraka ny vahoaka breziliana? Tena manamaivana tokoa ny firenena sy tsy firaharahiana ny soa ho an'ny vahoaka breziliana. |
36 | In the website [pt] of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, data about the Brazilian trade balance details the total value of exports per commodity - among them aluminum and iron ore. | Ao amin'ny tranonkalan'ny Ministrena'ny Fampandrosoana, ny Indostria ary ny Varotra Ivelany [teny portigey], ireo angona momba ny fifandanjana ara-barotra breziliana dia manondro ireo tontalim-bola isaky ny vokatra naondrana, isan'ireny ny alimo sy ny vy. |
37 | Niobium is not listed. | Tsy hita anatin'io lisitra io ny niobium. |
38 | Obviously, all mineral exploitation must take into consideration environmental matters and social impact. | Mazava loatra, tsy maintsy raisina anaty kajikajy ireo fiantraikany amin'ny tontolo iainana sy ara-tsosialy raha vao resaka fitrandrahana harena ankibon'ny tany. |
39 | However, with all this wealth in Brazilian soils, it seems inevitable to ask who is being exploited through niobium. | Kanefa, miaraka amin'ireo harena rehetra ao ankibon'ny tany Breziliana ireo, tsy vita ny tsy hanontany hoe iza no mahazo tombony amin'ny niobium. |