Diamantino Azevedo, speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Polytechnic Institute of Lueji A'Nkonde University, noted that the South African partner's return to Angola is "already beginning to bear fruit," with the discovery of a kimberlite body in the Mukonda concession in Lunda Sul.
According to the minister, this result, obtained in the first well drilled into high-priority targets, could represent the emergence of a new kimberlite province in the country, "reinforcing the strategic importance of this partnership and confirming Angola's high geological diamond potential."
De Beers announced on Tuesday the discovery of a new kimberlite field, the first in over three decades, reinforcing the group's commitment to Angola. It emphasized that, in the coming months, new drilling, ground-based geophysical surveys, and laboratory analyses will be conducted to confirm the kimberlite type and assess its diamond potential.
"In July 2025, the De Beers-Endiama joint venture successfully intercepted kimberlite in its first drilling in a set of high-priority targets identified from aerial surveys completed in March 2025," the diamond company emphasized.
De Beers Group CEO Al Cook, quoted in the statement, considered Angola, in his opinion, "one of the best places on the planet to search for diamonds."
"It is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through partnerships, and I congratulate President Lourenço and his government for all the work they have done to increase transparency, adopt international best practices, and create a business-friendly environment, which has allowed us to return to Angola and seek new sources of supply," he emphasized.
In his speech, the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil, and Gas stated that Lunda-Sul has established itself as a major diamond producing center, boasting two large mines, the Catoca Mining Company and the Luele Mining Company, which directly employ more than 7,000 workers.
"In the last two years, the province's average annual production reached approximately 10 million carats, representing almost 87 percent of national production during this period," said Diamantino Azevedo.
The minister emphasized that despite the difficulties the national diamond sector has faced recently, due to the sanctions imposed on the former partner in the Catoca Mining Company, the Russian company Al Rosa, and the emergence of synthetic diamonds, which negatively affected prices, in 2024, for the first time, national diamond production exceeded nine million carats, reaching over 14 million carats.
"In 2023, the province once again stood out with the inauguration of the Luele Mining Society. This mine, with diamond resources estimated at over 600 million carats, is considered the largest project of its kind launched in recent years worldwide and marks a historic milestone for the national diamond sector," he emphasized.
The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil, and Gas mentioned the need to promote the development of human capital, adding that the newly inaugurated polytechnic institute "stands as a beacon of knowledge focused on specialized technical training" to empower young people.
The Polytechnic Institute of Lueji A'Nkonde University, built over 32 months in the city of Saurimo, capital of Lunda Sul, cost the state 47.4 million dollars and is expected to benefit more than 5400 students across three shifts.
