Angola to Review 2011 Mining Code as Government Seeks to Boost Sector Competitiveness
Angola is set to conduct a comprehensive review of its mining sector and Mining Code, 15 years after the legislation was introduced, as the government seeks to strengthen competitiveness and align the regulatory framework with changes in the global minerals industry.
Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo announced the planned review during celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of the Mining Code, approved on September 23, 2011.
Azevedo said the mining sector had undergone significant changes since the legislation was adopted, particularly as the energy transition has increased demand for minerals needed for electricity networks, renewable energy technologies and other emerging industries.
The competitiveness study will assess the Mining Code and wider legal and regulatory framework to determine which provisions should be retained, clarified, refined or amended based on evidence from the sector.
The review will extend beyond legislation to examine Angola’s broader mining investment environment, including the tax and customs regime, licensing procedures, access to financing and workforce skills.
Azevedo stressed that regulatory reform would have to preserve legal certainty and protect legitimately established investor rights, while giving the government effective tools to prevent speculation, enforce obligations and safeguard the country’s mineral resources.
He said investors required clear rules, predictable decisions and defined timelines, while the State needed an effective regulatory framework capable of responding to the sector’s evolving needs.
The review will also place greater attention on semi-industrial mining, which the government sees as an avenue for increasing domestic participation, creating employment and supporting local economic development.
However, Azevedo said semi-industrial operations would have to comply with technical, environmental and safety standards.
The government also intends to strengthen technical assistance, access to legal markets and regulatory oversight, particularly to address practices that could contaminate rivers and soil or pose risks to public health.
The planned reforms come as Angola seeks to diversify its mining industry and attract investment into a broader range of minerals.
The country has been positioning itself to develop resources including copper, gold, manganese, iron, rare earths, niobium and lithium, while placing greater emphasis on local value addition and industrialisation.
The Mining Code currently provides the legal framework for geological exploration, mineral discovery and assessment, extraction, marketing and exploitation of mineral resources, as well as the rights and obligations associated with mining activities in Angola.
