The Sociedade Mineira do Chitotolo (SMC) suspended operations in the areas of Chitotolo, Muyta and Sangulungu, keeping them in Maludi, which represents 40 percent of the activity of the consortium owned by Angola’s Endiama and Lumanhe, as well as Australia’s ITM.
The partial interruption of operations was decided to comply with the restrictions imposed by the State of Emergency in force in the country since March 27, giving rise to authorization for home confinement for 60 percent of the workforce, according to information obtained from the director of Mining Operations. of the company. Alexandre Albuquerque stated that, of the 850 workers, SMC only operates with 410, who provide minimum services. “Due to the contingency plan, we established a program in which we had to temporarily lay off several workers in two camps”, he said. The manager indicated that the temporary decrease in the number of workers forced the closure of exploration areas in Chitotolo, Muyita and Sangulungu, with the maintenance of operations only in the Maludi concession. Sociedade Mineira do Chitotolo holds mining rights for an area of 4,500 square kilometers, of which 2,000 are in operation. The rest are marked for prospecting. Alexandre Albuquerque said that negotiations are underway with the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas for the award of new concessions that will allow the area to be increased to 7,000 square kilometres.
