Angola Launches Digital Mining Registry to Streamline Licensing, Boost Transparency, and Attract Investment
Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, has appointed a Multidisciplinary Technical Commission to oversee the digitisation of the licensing process for mining activities in the country, marking a major step toward modernising the sector’s regulatory framework.
The initiative includes the implementation of the Angola Digital Mining Registry System (CMA), designed to support Objective 37.1 of Angola’s National Development Plan.
This objective focuses on strengthening geological knowledge through improved mapping and the continuous updating of national mineral resource inventories under the Programme for the Development and Modernisation of Geological and Mining Activities.
The move also aligns with Presidential Decrees No. 181/22 and 182/22, both issued on 22 July, through which the government committed to the 2022–2027 Digital Transition Agenda for Public Administration and the Project for the Simplification of Administrative Procedures.
These initiatives aim to accelerate the adoption of e-governance tools, streamline administrative processes, and enhance the delivery of efficient public services to citizens and investors.
A Platform to Modernise Mining Administration
The CMA is an integrated electronic platform designed to modernise the management of mining rights in Angola by improving transparency, reducing bureaucracy, and strengthening regulatory oversight.
According to Emanuel Saturnino, Coordinator of the Technical Commission for the Implementation of the Mining Licensing and Registration Management System, the platform will allow investors and mining operators to interact directly with regulators through a digital interface.
The system will facilitate applications for mining titles, streamline fee payments, and improve regulatory efficiency.
Officials believe the platform will play a key role in supporting Angola’s broader economic diversification strategy by attracting responsible investment and increasing public revenue from the mining sector.
Structural Reform in Mining Governance
In a recent interview in Luanda, Saturnino described the transition to a fully digital Mining Registry as a structural transformation in the way mining rights are administered in Angola.
He noted that the system represents more than a technological upgrade, introducing a new operational model built on clear, predictable processes aligned with international best practices in mining governance.
Beyond improving administrative efficiency, the platform is expected to enhance the overall attractiveness of Angola’s mining sector by strengthening legal certainty for investors and consolidating the country’s geological and mining data infrastructure.
Local Expertise Drives System Development
Saturnino also highlighted the role of local expertise in the development of the system. While international experience was leveraged during the acquisition of certain software components, key elements of the CMA such as the organisational information system were designed and developed by Angolan technical specialists.
He added that the Technical Commission is currently conducting outreach and awareness campaigns to introduce the new platform to stakeholders.
These efforts are intended to ensure that future users understand how the system works, can raise questions, and provide feedback to support continuous improvement.
The government views the digital mining registry as a cornerstone reform that will strengthen governance, improve regulatory transparency, and position Angola as a more competitive destination for mining investment in Africa.
