Angola’s National Diamond Trading Company (SODIAM) has announced it raised $15.5 million from the sale of 17 special diamond stones in its latest auction. The diamonds were sourced from four mining companies: Lulo, Kaixepa, Chitotolo, and Luele. This marked the 14th auction organized by SODIAM, with evaluation sessions taking place from Monday to Thursday last week. A total of 865.19 carats were sold, generating a return that exceeded expectations by 23.33%, according to the company.
Angola’s state-owned diamond companies, Endiama and Sodiam, have officially joined the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) as contributing members, marking a significant step in the country’s integration into the global natural diamond industry. Effective July 1, 2025, both companies will begin their participation with a joint contribution of $8 million for the second half of the year. “By joining the Natural Diamond Council, Endiama and Sodiam are formalizing our dedication to a global strategy that highlights
South African integrated energy and chemical company Sasol has entered into a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with renewable energy producer Akuo to supply 91 megawatts of solar power—equivalent to approximately 250,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually—to its Lake Charles Chemicals Complex in Coke County, Texas. The 15-year VPPA will draw power from Akuo’s 195 MW Tennyson Solar Farm, which is currently under construction in the region. “This increased use of renewable energy, through both direct and
The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is on track to resume full operations by October 2025, aiming to drastically reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported refined fuels. In a recent briefing with Parliament’s Energy Committee, Edmund Kombat, TOR’s Acting Managing Director, revealed that Ghana currently spends about $400 million per month on fuel imports. Once TOR is fully operational, he estimates that figure could be cut by more than half. Kombat explained that with the refinery running,
TaTe Diamonds, Namibia’s first fully Namibian-owned diamond company, has officially entered the United States market with the grand opening of its flagship showroom in Atlanta, Georgia. Located in Buckhead, Atlanta’s premier luxury district, the showroom marks a significant milestone in the company’s international expansion and brand visibility. The launch event drew distinguished Namibian and international guests, with Brent Eiseb, CEO of the Namibian Diamond Trading Company (NDTC), presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Namibian delegation
De Beers, the global diamond mining giant, will commence diamond exploration activities in Angola’s Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces within the next two weeks, according to the company’s CEO, Al Cook. The announcement was made following a meeting with President João Lourenço in Luanda on Tuesday. According to a statement from the Press Office of the Presidency (CIPRA), accessed by VerAngola, the exploration marks the next phase following two years of aerial electromagnetic surveys
Hari Krishna Exports, one of the world’s leading companies in high-quality rough diamond cutting and jewelry manufacturing, has expressed strong interest in investing in Angola. The company plans to establish two diamond cutting factories in the Saurimo Diamond Development Hub, located in the province of Lunda Sul. A delegation from Hari Krishna Exports, led by Dharmesh Dholakia, is currently visiting Angola and has been received by the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, as
Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, defended the decision to replace Russia’s Alrosa as a partner in the country’s key diamond mining ventures, saying the move was initially misunderstood but ultimately necessary to protect national and sectoral interests. Speaking at a diamond industry presentation on Thursday in Luanda, Azevedo acknowledged that the change “was not always well understood, including by Endiama itself,” referring to Angola’s state-owned diamond company. He emphasized that
Independent oil company Perenco has committed $200 million to the construction of a new offshore gas platform, Kombi 2, located within the Kombi-Likalala-Libondo II (KLL II) permit area. Currently under construction at the Nieuwdorp shipyard in the Netherlands by engineering services firm Dixstone, the Kombi 2 platform is expected to produce approximately 7 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. The platform is scheduled to depart for Congo in October 2025 and is projected
QatarEnergy has secured exploration rights for oil and gas in Algeria, marking its entry into the country’s upstream sector through the 2024 Algeria Bid Round. The announcement was made by ALNAFT, Algeria’s national agency responsible for hydrocarbon resource management. The Ahara Block was awarded to a consortium comprising QatarEnergy (24.5%), TotalEnergies (24.5%, also designated as the operator during the exploration phase), and Algeria’s state-owned Sonatrach (51%). QatarEnergy’s President and CEO, H.E. Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi,
