Potential and Developed Resources

The concept of resources is very vast and complex in nature. In simpler terms, it can be said that everything that is useful can be considered a resource. Every element on earth that has been used to advance human civilization can be called a resource. Water, air, animals, plants, metals, minerals, all are different resources as all of them add value to society. The value of a resource is determined by its functionality. For example, land lying barren is not considered a resource, but if it is being cultivated or used for some productive reason, it is definitely a type of resource. A natural resource is defined as a resource that is acquired from nature. For example, the air we breathe in is a natural resource and is integral to every living organism.

Resources

So, it can be concluded that a resource is a physical material that satisfies human needs and its value is determined by its functionality. Resources are categorised on the basis of their characteristics. For example, resources are classified as renewable and non-renewable resources on the basis of their sustainability. Renewable resources are those resources which can replenish themselves with time, such as air and water. Non-renewable resources are those resources which have a limited supply, such as coal, natural gas, petroleum, etc. Resources are categorised into natural and man-made resources on the basis of their origin. Natural resources are those resources which can be acquired naturally, such as timber, water, etc. whereas man-made resources are resources that are processed by human beings, such as petroleum jelly. In this case, crude petroleum is a natural resource, but petroleum jelly or lubricant oil is a man-made resource. The resources are also classified into potential and developed resources on the basis of their potential.

The differences between Potential Resources and Developed Resources

A potential resource is a resource that is present and can be used in the future. For example, wind and solar power can be used to generate a huge amount of energy in the future. Extensive use of solar and wind energy is still not widespread or even popular, and a lot of research work needs to be done. Another such example is that Gujarat and Rajasthan have a lot of potentials to develop solar energy as these two states receive maximum sunlight. But so far, the resources haven’t been developed here. One of the primary reasons for that is a lack of investment. Another such example is uranium. It has been found in Ladakh, but till now it hasn’t been utilized, so it is a potential resource. India currently doesn’t have the technology to extract uranium from Ladakh, so this resource hasn’t been utilised properly. Developed resources are those resources whose quality and quantity have been determined for utilisation, and these resources are kept under continuous survey. The development of resources actually depends on available technology and the level of their feasibility. For example, water is used for hydropower generation in Himachal Pradesh and for irrigation purposes all over India, so it is considered a resource. Another such example is the oil reserves in the Middle East.

So, differences between potential and developed resources can be summarised as,

• A potential resource is a resource that is not fully developed yet but can be used in the future
• The reasons behind its underdevelopment can be lack of investment, lack of research, modern technology, or investment
• A developed resource is a resource that is fully functional and is currently being used

• A potential resource is found only in an area and is not fully measured
• But the developed resources are found in several areas, and they are kept under constant survey

• An example of a potential resource in India is the uranium in Ladakh
• Currently, it can’t be extracted due to a lack of technology, and the total quantity of the resource is not measured
• An example of a developed resource in India is coal
• It is used to its full potential and the amount of coal is surveyed and measured

Conclusion

It is evident that resources are classified into potential and developed resources on the basis of their potential development. Potential resources can be used in the future if proper research is done, technology becomes feasible, or investment happens. Developed resources are used in the present. All developed resources were potential resources at some point in time. For example, coal was discovered in ancient times, but it started to be used as the main energy source during the industrial revolution.