The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Endiama, a state-owned diamond company, expressed grave concerns regarding diamond mining activities in concession areas within the Lunda Norte province.
These concerns primarily stem from alleged complicity among certain authorities. Jose Gange Júnior voiced his apprehensions during the biannual review session on diamond production, currently underway for three days in Dundo, the capital of Lunda Norte.
According to the official, the situation is particularly troubling in the Chitotolo, Lunhinga, Lulo, and Luminas mines.
These areas are facing daily invasions by well-organized groups, significantly impacting the mines’ sustainability.
José Ganga Júnior emphasized that if the situation persists, companies may be compelled to temporarily cease operations, which would adversely affect the sector.
The invaded areas constitute a substantial portion of their production. The President of the National Diamond Company of Angola (Endiama) revealed that many of these invasions occur with the consent of certain authorities, leading to requests for support from local government and defense and security bodies to combat the issue promptly.
While some incidents have been addressed through the intervention of defense and security forces, such as the Luminas case during Operation Transparency, the resumption of activities remains complex.
New prospecting efforts are underway to identify fresh reserves, but results have yet to yield positive outcomes.
Considering the circumstances, the company may be forced to lay off employees, reducing costs and shifting focus solely to prospecting for new reserves since the existing ones have been depleted.
Regarding the Lulo mine, José Ganga Júnior exposed the presence of mining groups masquerading as agricultural cooperatives, illegally encroaching upon concession areas.
He warned that Lulo has only three more years of exploration left, and if these incursions persist, they may be compelled to cease operations, resulting in the depletion of its reserves.
