The Angolan government has stated that the potential withdrawal of the Russian multinational Alrosa from the Catoca project depends on ongoing political assessments, expressing confidence that there will be no prohibition on the sale of Angolan diamonds in the European Union (EU).
Jânio Vitor Correia, the Secretary of Mineral Resources, clarified that while the EU is scrutinizing a partnership involving Catoca (Alrosa), diplomatic efforts are underway to address the situation. He emphasized that there is currently no EU ban on Angolan diamond sales.
Speaking at a diamond subsector achievement presentation event, Correia assured reporters that efforts are being made to resolve the issue diplomatically.
He emphasized that there are numerous mining projects in Angola besides Catoca, such as Sociedade Mineira do Luele, where Alrosa does not have a presence. Therefore, any potential departure of Alrosa from Catoca would not hinder diamond sales.
The discussion surrounding Alrosa’s departure from the Sociedade Mineira de Catoca, where it holds a 41% stake, has been ongoing since late 2023, prompted by sanctions imposed following the Ukraine invasion.
