According to a statement from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, the first meeting between the president of Endiama, Ganga Júnior, and his counterpart at Maaden, Abdul Aziz Al Maqbali, took place this Monday in Luanda.
The replacement of the Russian company Alrosa in Catoca and Luele by the Omani company, a subsidiary of the sovereign wealth fund of the Sultanate of Oman, was approved by the Council of Ministers on 28 November.
Abdul Aziz Al Maqbali, according to the ministry's note, reported that "the two companies are quite aligned" and should close negotiations on investments to be held in the coming days, when President João Lourenço visits the Sultanate of Oman.
"There are strong ambitions from both companies to strengthen the Angolan diamond value chain and the economy of both countries", said Maqbali, quoted in the same statement.
Maaden International Investment will hold the shares of Alrosa (41 percent in Catoca) and the indirect part, corresponding to Alrosa in the Luaxe mine (via Catoca).
The minister responsible for Mineral Resources, Diamantino Azevedo, justified Alrosa's exit with the sanctions imposed on the Russian diamond company, which created difficulties for the national diamond industry and the credibility of Angolan diamonds in the international market.
