According to the chairman of the Board of Directors of Endiama, José Ganga Júnior, diamond production in 2023 recorded a deficit of 2.63 million carats compared to initially planned.
"The deficit was particularly accentuated in the third and fourth quarters of 2023 due to constraints in the start-up of the Sociedade Mineira do Luele treatment plant as well as the reduction in production levels of some projects", refers to the balance of activities 2023, presented this Wednesday by the person responsible.
According to the document, presented at a press conference celebrating the 43rd anniversary of the state-owned diamond company, created on January 15, 1981, limitations on the acquisition of foreign exchange for the import of equipment were other constraints observed during the period.
At least 54 diamond projects are currently being prospected in Angola (34 in operation, 20 under restructuring), 10 of which are primary and 44 secondary.
There are 24 projects in production, namely four primary and 20 secondary. There are 68 semi-industrial exploration projects in operation distributed in the provinces of Bié, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje and Uíje.
Speaking to journalists, José Ganga Júnior stated that, by 2024, the company he heads estimates to produce 14.6 million carats and foresees gross revenue of around 2.5 billion dollars in sales.
The official also announced that the country will gain a new diamond cutting factory in January, which should be opened in the province of Lunda Sul, joining the eight already in operation.
Endiama should focus, in the 2024 financial year, on consolidating its position as a reference mining company at national and international level and consolidating internal compliance processes.
Updating the reserves of mining projects, boosting prospecting work to increase reserves and completing the process of grouping cooperatives are among the company's perspectives for 2024.
