Angola Boosts Namibe Mining and Oil Sector with Ornamental Rock Hub and Strategic Investments
Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil, and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, is in Namibe for a working visit, focusing on the construction of the Ornamental Rock Development Hub and meetings with local mining industry leaders.
The Ornamental Rock Development Hub, located 32 kilometers from Mocamedes, is progressing rapidly, just over six months after the foundation stone was laid.
Minister Azevedo was joined by Namibe Governor Archer Mangueira, ministry directors, and provincial representatives.
The project, considered strategic for Angola’s ornamental stone industry, will include:
A research laboratory
A modern convention center
A large exhibition area with 70 stands
Accommodation for 24 students, commercial areas, and a police station
The hub’s location ensures direct connectivity to the railway and will feature a dry port, banking institutions, commercial areas, and tax administration offices, creating an ecosystem designed to drive regional economic growth.
Since February, geotechnical studies, topographic surveys, geophysical analyses, and site preparations have been completed. The project is managed by Telhabel, which has mobilized approximately 50 employees on-site.
Mining Sector Engagement
During the visit, Minister Azevedo met with local mining business leaders to strengthen partnerships and accelerate the development of production chains linked to natural resources.
He highlighted Namibe’s resilience and entrepreneurship, citing Marlin, a local calcium carbonate producer, as an example of innovation with national impact.
Technical presentations were delivered by the Geological Institute of Angola (IGEO), the National Mineral Resources Agency (ANRM), the National Oil, Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute (IRDP).
ANRM Administrator Joao Chimuco reported that 127 mining titles and permits have been issued in Namibe, primarily for ornamental rocks, with 63 percent currently operational, consolidating the province as a national benchmark in ornamental stone production and processing.
ANPG Administrator Ana Miala highlighted the oil potential of the Namibe Basin, which has 12 concessions and one drilled well, with onshore studies planned to begin soon. Social responsibility projects include a school in Mocamedes and 28 artesian wells in Bibala and Virei.
IRDP Director General Luis Fernandes discussed opportunities in petroleum derivatives storage, transport, distribution, and marketing, emphasizing the liberalized sector and the province’s capacity to store 29 million liters of derivatives and over 1,000 cubic meters of cooking gas. He encouraged investment in gas cylinder production and filling facilities, citing strong local demand.
The visit underscores Angola’s commitment to developing the Namibe region as a hub for both mineral resources and oil sector growth, combining infrastructure, private investment, and social development initiatives.
