A total of 800,000 tons of black granite, particularly Negro-Angola, is being extracted annually by the various companies registered with the Association of Producers, Transformers, Traders and Exporters of Ornamental Stones of Southern Angola (APEPA).
The vice-president of the association, Elias Cipriano, highlighted the provinces of Huíla and Namibe as the most attractive in the country as they account for 80 percent of the exploration and export of rocks of various types, with emphasis on black, grey, pink, as well as marble.
He described that the sixteen mining companies registered in the association are currently exploring more than 40 quarries, located in the provinces in question.
“The commitment of the mining companies allowed a figure of one million tons per year of granite, quartzite and other rocks to be reached.
Elias Cipriano, described the granite called Negro Angola by producers, as being the most sought after in international markets, especially in China, France, Italy, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates, a fact that made it the national flag.
In his opinion, Negro Angola came to be seen as a classic civil construction material because, after being polished or industrialized, it has the ability to maintain its quality for decades.
According to him, Negro Angola granite is already competing on the international market with Black Galaxy from India, Absolute Black from Zimbabwe, Impala from South Africa and Granito 654 from China. “Our country’s stones have recognized quality for covering works in all dimensions, as well as not altering the grain size, texture, typology.”
Black granite suffered a devaluation of around 60 percent in one year, a fact that will require members of the association to take a position on what happened, fundamentally regarding railway and port taxes, which are preponderant for its appreciation.
More than 400 million dollars were invested by companies that explore the ornamental stone sector in the provinces of Huíla and Namibe, which allowed a substantial increase in extraction and transport to the Commercial Port of Namibe in order to meet demand.
It appears that the financing used establishes an amortization period of no less than 30 years, where what is already worrying investors is the fact that the operators have a stock of blocks valued at more than 60 million dollars to be exported as a result of unfair competition.
jobs created
Dimensional stone exploration companies in the southern region employ over 6,000 workers trained in various areas of the sector, with emphasis on Mining Engineering, Hammersmiths, Geology, Research, Bleachers, Machine Operators, Mechanics and others.
Young people carry out their activities in companies for the exploration and transformation of ornamental stones located in the villages of Tchikuatiti, Lufinda, Capunda – Cavilongo, Quihita (municipality of Chibia), various parts of the Gambos and in various areas of the province of Namibe.
