Luanda – Angolan minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo said Wednesday that requests from national and foreign companies interested in prospecting and exploring minerals in Angola remain dynamic.
The sector, according to him, receives prospecting requests for various minerals companies every day.
As an example, Diamantino Azevedo points out the existence of 40 companies interested in prospecting for gold and many others looking for copper, diamonds, base metals, lithium, niobium and rare earths.
“(…) We constantly have prospecting requests. Every day I receive and sign prospecting requests”, said Diamantino Azevedo, who was speaking to the press, on the sidelines of the meeting on the presentation of the results of the National Geology Plan (PLANAGEO).
The meeting brought together members of the Executive and representatives of the accredited diplomatic bodies in Angola.
While some send prospecting requests, many other companies are already exploring “precious stones” such as diamonds, gold, manganese, ornamental rocks, among other minerals.
The minister Diamantino Azevedo said it is necessary to have many companies prospecting, in order to have some result in the end, remembering that not all prospecting results in a mining project.
Diamonds currency source
In the set of the most varied minerals exploited, the diamond sector continues to contribute to the collection of currency for the country, with around 3% of participation, a percentage that tends to increase, according to the minister.
Next comes a small percentage of marble and granite, according to the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas.
“If we consider that cement comes from mineral resources, such as limestone, gypsum, iron and clay, we also have our contribution”, he said.
On the other hand, the National Geology Plan (PLANAGEO), still in progress, began in 2013.
The project aims to improve the country's geological knowledge, and put this knowledge at the service of society and all those interested in the development of Angola's mineral resources. NE/CF/NIC
