Cubango Emerges as Angola’s New Mining and Oil Exploration Frontier
Angola has identified Cubango Province as an emerging frontier for mining and oil investment as the government seeks to unlock new resource potential and diversify the country’s economy.
Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo said Cubango had significant geological potential, particularly for copper and cobalt, while exploration had also indicated the presence of iron, gold and lead.
The province forms part of the Lufilian Belt, a mineral-rich geological zone extending across the Central African Copperbelt, strengthening its potential for further mineral exploration and development.
Speaking at an investment forum in Cubango, Azevedo said the province should be viewed not only as an exploration area but also as an opportunity to develop local value chains, businesses, skills and productive capacity around its natural resources.
The government was also advancing studies into the oil and gas potential of Angola’s inland sedimentary basins. The National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) was conducting exploration studies in the Kassanje and Etosha-Okavango basins, covering parts of Cubango, Cuando, Moxico, Eastern Moxico and Cunene provinces.
Azevedo said Angola remained focused on maintaining oil production above one million barrels per day, increasing the monetisation of natural gas resources and achieving greater self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products.
Beyond exploration, the minister emphasised the need for greater value to be retained within Angola through industrial development, employment, skills and technology transfer.
The government was also preparing to introduce a Digital Mining Registry aimed at improving transparency, predictability and efficiency in the granting of mining rights.
The investment forum, held under the theme “Cubango: The New Frontier for Mining and Oil Investment to Diversify the Economy”, brought together government officials and investors as Angola sought to attract investment into the province’s emerging mining and energy opportunities.
Azevedo said Angola was looking for partners capable of developing value chains and productive capacity while supporting responsible resource development and environmental protection.
