During the guided tour, Angolan officials had the opportunity to learn about the company's processes, understand the advantages of offshore diamond exploration and its challenges, as well as the innovative technology used by De Beers, both for prospecting and for extracting diamonds in this environment, according to a press release from the ministry to which VerAngola had access.
“It is always an opportunity to understand how things are done, the advantages and disadvantages, and to continue studying the possibility of taking steps that will lead us [one day] to explore our offshore mining resources,” commented Minister Diamantino Azevedo, who was accompanied by executives from ANRM, Endiama and Sodiam.
It is worth remembering that the minister and his delegation are in South Africa to participate in the 31st edition of Mining Indaga, which ends this Thursday.
Diamantino Azevedo stated that, since this conference, the sector he heads has managed to attract investment to the country and meet with almost all the world's companies, as well as financial institutions, with whom he has met to “present Angola” and invite them to invest in the country. “We have also taken the opportunity to hold intergovernmental meetings,” he added.
He also highlighted the Business Forum, held on the 4th, which was attended by around 400 guests and in which the status of the sector was presented. mining and projects that have demonstrated results, such as those of De Beers, AngloAmerica, Rio Tinto and Ivanhoe Mines, “large companies” that are prospecting for various minerals, such as basic minerals and minerals that are critical for the energy transition, which he considered “very important, because the entire mining world now knows what is happening in Angola”.
Of the presentations made, Diamantino Azevedo mentioned the rare earths project, which is being implemented in Longonjo, and another lithium project [an important mineral for the energy transition], as well as the interministerial meetings, where the situation of the mining sector in Africa was discussed.
Projects that will start up soon were also presented, such as a copper project in Uíge, which should be about to start production, and a niobium project in Huila. “These are two minerals that Angola does not yet produce and, if all goes well, we hope to have them in production soon”, stated the minister.
Another event mentioned by Diamantino Azevedo was the bilateral work with representatives from the governments of India, the United Kingdom, France, the Geological Institute of Germany and the counterpart from Botswana, with whom cooperation between the two countries in the mining industry was discussed and the situation of the diamond industry, which is going through a critical moment, was analysed "in depth".
"These have been days of intense work, but they bring us joy", concluded the Minister of Mineral Resources.
