The project dates back to the time of the former president, José Eduardo dos Santos, and provided for an investment of US$26 million for the exploration of secondary deposits of diamonds in Malanje province, as reported in the Jornal de Angola on August 18, 2014.
At the time, the deputy director of the Sociedade Mineira do Maua project, Carlos Castro, estimated the inauguration of the project for September of the same year, referring to it as an investment with capital from Israel.
The company was formed in 2009 by the Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de Angola (ENDIAMA) and a group of private companies, SOCIM-Sociedade de Investimentos, SOMUA -Sociedade Mineira Maua and Cuango Internacional-Recursos Mineiros.
The project was stopped and it was announced on January 2, 2017 that exploration would resume soon, according to the provincial director of Industry, Geology and Mining.
Mudile Xiquito, explained at the time that the stoppage was due to the need for restructuring and because the mining potential of the area where it is located is still unknown.
In the presidential decree signed by João Lourenço and dated 20 April, the president determines the termination of the contract signed for the mining project of Maua due to the "breach of legal obligations resulting from the clauses of the contract" that constitute grounds for the termination or revocation of the concession.
This will be done "without prejudice to the duties of the holders of the mining rights regarding the delivery of the geological information received and mitigation of environmental effects".
The decree states that the holders of the terminated mining rights "are obliged to repair any damage caused in the exercise of the same, as well as the fulfilment of other obligations arising from the exercise of mining activity".
