"We had initially planned to produce around 10 million carats for this year and we have been adjusting, thinking that this very complicated period may be resolved within the next four months (...) We are currently considering a reduction in production in the order of 20 percent, which means that we should be at least eight million carats ", said the president of the Board of Directors (PCA) of Endiama, Ganga Júnior.
The official was speaking on the sidelines of the announcement of the results of the public tender for the granting of mining rights for the prospection and exploration of diamonds, iron and phosphates.
Ganga Júnior stressed that, at the moment, all mines are functioning. "Fortunately they are holding on", but diamond sales are stalled.
"There is no market at the moment. For all mines, we have reduced the intensity of exploration, not least because it is not possible at this moment to have 100 percent of the workers, a good part of them are at home," he said.
The head of the diamond concessionaire stressed that, at this time, the work is proceeding in a balanced situation and with the constitution of 'stocks'.
"[We are working] with the financial system and the reserves of each one, in the sense that we are not in a hurry to sell, because the situation is not good and we hope that we will all be resilient and come out victorious," he added.
Endiama's PCA underlined that Angola's goal is to become, by 2022, the world's third largest producer of diamonds, reaching the level of 14 million carats a year, and for this purpose some works are underway.
"First, improving the mines that already exist, this is a job that is everyday and that is already having an effect, and we also have to start, the experimental exploration (Luachi), but also the significant improvement of the old one Luó concession, which has Camachia Camagico and other kimberlites discovered. We are currently structuring to increase production capacity ", he stressed.
"We continue with this objective, despite the current circumstances of covid-19, but we think it is temporary, it will pass. The long-term market prospects point to the continued demand for diamonds and we think we will succeed", he said.
"At the moment, the movement of people is complicated", underlined Ganga Júnior, stressing that the diamond markets, namely India, Antwerp, Israel are closed and China is starting to reopen.
"We have the necessary sensitivity to adjust to this reality of the covid-19", he concluded.
