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, CIPRA.
Cook explained that the aerial surveys had successfully detected six potential kimberlite sites, which could significantly boost Angola’s diamond industry upon exploration.
“We believe that these sites have the potential to rejuvenate the diamond industry in Angola,” Cook remarked to the press following his meeting with President Lourenço.
He outlined that the next steps involve detailed geological studies to confirm the presence of kimberlites, with exploration expected to take one to two years.
“Drilling is already underway, and if the results are promising, we anticipate investing billions of dollars, which could generate thousands of jobs,” he added.
Cook, attending the International Conference on Diamonds, emphasized the importance of his audience with President Lourenço, describing the meeting as highly positive.
“It was wonderful to be here in Angola once again. We had a very productive discussion with the President, alongside the minister, focusing on our progress in the diamond sector,” he concluded, as quoted in the CIPRA statement.
