Uíge - Paralysed for 49 years, Mavoio mine, which includes Tetelo and Bembe mines in Uíge province, is beginning to show encouraging results in preliminary studies underway since 2009 to re-launch copper exploration, starting in 2023.
By:Jaime Reais
In order to re-launch this project, located in Maquela do Zombo municipality, 59 million kwanzas have so far been invested in prospecting, resulting in 115 boreholes to a depth of 570 metres.
These operations, which are already in their second phase (evaluation), have resulted in 12,710 samples analysed, from a geophysical and geochemical point of view, as well as related studies on environmental impact and other geological activities.
The next stage is reserved for feasibility studies, followed by the request for an exploration licence, starting in 2023, for 15 years, in a first phase, with initial production of up to 8,000 tonnes of "Contained Copper" in the first two years.
The perspective is to start extracting 26,000 tons/year, when the peak production is reached in this underground mine, with a depth of 500 metres, which is expected to be expanded, according to the CEO of SMCA (project manager), Rui Lopes.
