Al Cook, CEO of De Beers, stated that Angola is the premier destination globally for diamond exploration and a top priority for the South African multinational. During a meeting with President João Lourenço last Wednesday, Cook revealed that De Beers has identified six promising diamond exploration zones in the country. The identification of these zones stems from aerial studies conducted by De Beers in Angola, as noted in a statement from the country’s regulatory agency,
The Vice President of Angola, Esperanca da Costa, emphasized the importance of gender equality in the oil, gas, and minerals sectors during the opening of the “Women in Mining, Oil & Gas” conference. She urged companies operating in these industries to intensify their efforts to enhance women’s participation. In her remarks, da Costa highlighted that estimates from the country’s regulatory agency and other stakeholders indicate that women currently make up only about 14% of the
Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil, and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, stated on Wednesday last week that the government is in ongoing discussions with Russian diamond company Alrosa, a 41% shareholder in the Catoca diamond mine. He emphasized Angola’s commitment to protecting national interests during these negotiations. Speaking at the 2nd International Diamond Conference in Saurimo, Azevedo explained, “Our focus is on Angola’s interests, and we have conveyed these priorities to Alrosa.” Alrosa, facing sanctions due
Angola generated approximately $8.1 billion from exporting 102.1 million barrels of oil in the third quarter of this year, the government announced last week. Alexandre Garrett, director of the Planning and Statistics Office of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil, and Gas, reported a 5.42% rise in export volume from the previous quarter and a 2.01% increase compared to the same period in 2023. “Although export volumes rose, this increase was not reflected in price
De Beers is swiftly advancing its diamond exploration efforts in Angola, with CEO Al Cook recently announcing at the Angola International Diamond Conference that the company has already identified eight “high-potential kimberlite targets.” This progress comes as De Beers resumed exploration in 2022, following extensive regulatory reforms under President João Lourenço, who took office in 2017 after the end of José Eduardo dos Santos’ presidency. In the early 2000s, De Beers and other major diamond
ASX-listed Lucapa Diamond Company has reported the sale of 5,587 carats from the Lulo diamond mine in Angola, where it holds a 40% interest. During the quarter ending September 30, the diamonds were sold at an average price of $3,033 per carat, generating $16.9 million in revenue. Despite a shift in the mining plan due to late seasonal flooding, production at Lulo remained consistent with the same period in 2023. A lower recovered grade was
The Secretary of State for Oil and Gas, José Barroso, announced on Monday that Angola is emerging as a potential gas supplier for Southern Africa. He highlighted growing demand from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa, and Namibia, adding that the region is increasingly looking to Angola for gas supplies. Speaking at a public consultation on the Natural Gas Master Plan, Barroso revealed that Zambia has proposed constructing an Angola-Zambia
Sonangol, Angola’s state oil company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese firm Qinghai Lihao Clean Energy to establish a partnership aimed at developing a photovoltaic solar energy industrial chain in Angola. The agreement focuses on the production of solar panels using locally sourced quartz ore as the primary raw material. According to a statement from Sonangol, the partnership will lead to the creation of a solar panel industry in Angola, integrating quartz
Angola’s state-owned diamond trading company, Sodiam, has acquired advanced equipment to track and certify the origin of its diamonds, according to Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Janio Correa Victor. This move is part of Angola’s efforts to ensure greater transparency in its diamond sector, in line with its membership in the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) since 2022. Speaking at the opening of a workshop on the Assessment and Classification of Mineral Resources and
Angola’s diamond sector is grappling with a severe commercialization crisis, despite maintaining robust production levels, according to José Ganga Júnior, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Endiama, Angola’s state-owned diamond company. Ganga Júnior revealed that over three million carats of diamonds are currently in reserve, awaiting more favorable market conditions. Speaking during a press event on the sidelines of a workshop leading up to the 2nd International Diamond Conference of Angola, scheduled for October
