MIREMPET Evaluates Solid Minerals and Hydrocarbon Potential in Icolo & Bengo
Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas (MIREMPET) on Monday reviewed the mineral, oil and gas potential of Icolo e Bengo during a high-level meeting with provincial officials and sector technicians.
The session, led by Minister Diamantino Azevedo, focused on assessing ongoing activities in the province and identifying mechanisms to strengthen institutional coordination, regulatory oversight and sector development.
According to the minister, as one of Angola’s newest provinces, Icolo e Bengo faces structural and methodological challenges that must be addressed to unlock its resource potential.
Discussions therefore centred not only on existing operations but also on long-term development prospects.
Solid Minerals, Oil and Gas Activity
Regulatory bodies presented an overview of the province’s solid mineral, oil and gas potential.
Existing activities include mining operations, onshore oil exploration and the production of selected mineral resources.
In addition to aggregates such as sand and limestone, which are already under exploitation, preliminary indications suggest the possible presence of gold and hydrocarbons, pending further geological validation.
Representatives from the National Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) confirmed that oil and gas prospecting activities are ongoing at an early stage.
Several blocks in the province have already been allocated to private operators as well as Angola’s state-owned energy company.
Minister Azevedo cautioned, however, that hydrocarbon exploration is capital-intensive, technically demanding and inherently high-risk, requiring sustained investment and careful evaluation before commercial viability can be determined.
Cabo Ledo Prospecting Underway
Provincial Vice-Governor for the Political and Social Sector, Agostinho António, emphasised that systematic prospecting is essential to determine the scale, quality and economic feasibility of the province’s mineral endowment.
He confirmed that exploration activities are currently underway in the Cabo Ledo area to establish reliable geological data and assess the commercial viability of potential deposits.
The findings are expected to inform future investment decisions and contribute to regional economic development.
Industrial Development and Local Investment
Prior to the meeting, provincial authorities visited a marble and granite processing plant operating in the province.
The company outlined its social investment initiatives, including plans to construct a vocational technical school in the coming months a move aimed at strengthening local skills development and workforce participation in the extractive sector.
The engagement between MIREMPET and provincial stakeholders signals a coordinated effort to accelerate resource assessment, improve regulatory alignment and position Icolo e Bengo as an emerging contributor to Angola’s mining and energy landscape.
