Buzz
While the world is focused on searching for oil reserves and clean water, we seem to have forgotten that another crucial resource is on the brink of depletion. What is it?
Sand covers a vast area on Earth's surface. Surprisingly, sand is a resource whose usage by humans ranks second only to water. Sand is even more extensively mined than crude oil. It finds applications in construction, glass production, soil improvement, semiconductor chip manufacturing, and more.
Despite our belief that Earth has an abundance of sand, scientists are sounding the alarm that this resource is at risk of depletion. What is happening?
Sand is a material mined more than crude oil. (Image: Baidu)
Global sand crisis
One major factor contributing is the 'demand exceeding supply' phenomenon. Despite sand being a naturally renewable resource, the annual 'loss' is still alarmingly high.
According to a Freedonia study in 2016, the global sand extraction for construction purposes reached 13.7 billion tons, with 70% being consumed in Asia, and China alone consuming nearly 5 billion tons. Almost two-thirds of the global cement production is being consumed by China and India due to rapid urbanization in these countries.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) statistics, the global annual sand consumption has exceeded 40 billion tons and has increased by 200% compared to 20 years ago. Hence, even though sand can naturally regenerate, it cannot keep up with the pace of human consumption.
The demand for sand by nations far surpasses the available supply. (Image: Baidu)
Acknowledging this warning, Pascal Peduzzi, Director of the Global Resource Information Database at the United Nations Environment Programme, stated, 'We used to think that sand was everywhere. And we never thought the world would run out of sand, but in some places, it has happened.'
Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are the world's largest importers of sand. Over the past four decades, Singapore has expanded by an additional 130 km2 by using sand for land reclamation. The UAE has consumed up to 185 million m3 of sand to construct artificial islands for tourism purposes.
Consequences of Reckless Exploitation
According to UNEF, the export of sand to Singapore is the reason behind the disappearance of 24 sand islands in Indonesia. Subsequently, Indonesia imposed a ban on sand exports to Singapore. Cambodia and Malaysia also prohibited the export of sea sand. UAE has to import sand from Australia as their local supply has run dry.
However, the global demand for sand continues to rise unabated. Consequently, illicit sand trafficking has become a serious issue, leaving severe consequences for many countries. In India, illegal sand mining has become a menace, leading to numerous cases of violence and even murder in the competition for mining rights.
Today, sand smuggling has become a serious global issue. (Image: Baidu)
According to social activist Alex Gonzalez Davidson from Spain, the annual sand industry transactions amount to around 70 billion USD, with at least 15 billion USD coming from illegal mining operations.
In Morocco, half of the sand used by the country is sourced from illegal coastal mining. The phenomenon of erosion has occurred, impacting the country's tourism industry.
Not only in Morocco, sand mining is causing significant impacts on coral reefs in Kenya. It's also pushing crocodile species in India towards extinction. Similarly, the Mekong River ecosystem is in a alarming state. Specifically, the lower Mekong riverbed has drastically lowered by several meters in just the past few years.
Furthermore, scientists emphasize that excessive sand mining will destroy ecosystems, leading to more natural disasters. The disappearance of beaches is a contributing factor as there is nothing to prevent floods. The 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, caused by excessive sand mining, stands as evidence of this phenomenon in the island nation.
The sand trading price has surged sixfold over 25 years. (Image: Baidu)
Moreover, the scarcity of sand supply has rapidly driven up its price. The trading price of sand has nearly sextupled over 25 years. Data from Centennial Construction Network reveals that in China, the price of sand is currently at a 'sky-high' level. As of June 30, 2022, the average sand price in China is around 138 CNY/m3 (equivalent to over 450,000 VND/m3).
Globally, many countries have increased the cost of products using sand as a raw material due to its scarcity. Since June 2022, two silicon wafer production companies, ShinEtsu and SUMCO, have announced price hikes citing the continuous surge in sand prices.
So, with the looming threat of sand depletion and its escalating price, what proposals have experts put forth to address this issue?
A Need for Comprehensive Planning
In reality, scientists have devised artificial sand as a replacement for natural sand. Crushed from rocks and pebbles, it is free from impurities and dust, eliminating the need for pre-filtering before being used in concrete. With consistent size and high compressive strength, it's ideal for concrete production. However, the cost of artificial sand remains relatively high.
Moreover, many countries have started utilizing recycled ash from incinerated solid waste as a substitute for sand. For instance, in Zurich, a city in Switzerland, buildings are being constructed with 98% recycled concrete.
Another initiative underway in India involves using discarded plastic to produce concrete. Additionally, researchers are exploring the use of other materials like reclaimed wood.
Alongside these solutions, the United Nations Environment Programme recommends that governments collaborate to establish a common set of regulations for the sustainable management of natural sand extraction. If these regulations are implemented and adhered to earnestly by nations, it is certain that the natural sand resource will not face depletion, and illegal sand trafficking will cease.
Source: CBC, The Guardian, Euronews...
