The information was advanced on the spot by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino de Azevedo, on the sidelines of João Lourenço's visit to the project. The government official said that, in the first place, the project started by providing training opportunities for young people from the province of Lunda Sul, who are already studying abroad.
At the site, the center will have two training schools, one of which is a 'factory / school' for diamond appraisers and cutters and the other a technical-professional education institution linked to Endiama.
In addition to training specializing in geology, exploration and transformation of minerals, there will be conditions for teaching in other areas such as electricity, mechanics and carpentry.
Despite not having advanced the total production capacity of the pole, the minister stated that there is a long-term goal to be fulfilled, with regard to the cutting of diamonds. Even though it is 'difficult', the holder of the mineral resources portfolio said that the objective is to reach 20 percent of the country's total diamond production.
It is known that the pole will have, in a first phase, with five factories, with another 22 lots available for the construction of other factories, says ANGOP. Located to the north of the city of Saurimo, in Lunda Sul, the objective of the project is to bring together companies linked to the mining economy in one space, with emphasis on the diamond value chain.
The works started in October 2019, with an investment estimated at around US $ 80 million. The infrastructure is similar to the Special Economic Zone (ZEE), in Viana, aiming to create investment opportunities for national and foreign entrepreneurs
Diamantino Azevedo also said that the energy will be provided by a hybrid plant, with thermal and solar energy.
After the visit, João Lourenço announced that in a few months - seven, according to forecasts - he will return to the city of Saurimo to inaugurate the enterprise which, he said, "will have a great impact on the life of the province and will create many jobs".
