Mining Law Is Key to Angola’s Sovereignty and Sustainable Development, Says Minister
The Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum, and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, emphasized on Tuesday in Luanda that Mining Law in Angola is a vital tool for national sovereignty and economic justice, serving as a pathway toward the country’s sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a specialized course in Mining Law, held at a university in Luanda, Azevedo highlighted the urgent need to train competent professionals capable of managing Angola’s mineral resources with ethical principles, technical rigor, and strategic vision.
To strengthen and refine the country’s legal framework in the mining sector, the minister stressed the importance of academic and industry collaboration in analyzing Angola’s Mining Code, while also studying the legal systems of mining-intensive countries such as South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, and Botswana, as well as global benchmarks like Brazil, Canada, and Spain.
“This exercise will allow us to adopt best practices, enhance competitiveness, and ensure that our legal framework is prepared to meet global challenges,” said Azevedo.
He added that the teaching of Mining Law is a national strategic necessity to ensure that legal professionals, judges, and policymakers align with the economic, social, and environmental logic of mining activities.
The minister identified three major challenges shaping the future of Angola’s mining legal framework:
Sustainability – ensuring that mining activities respect environmental and community needs;
Local Value Creation – guaranteeing that resources generate jobs, foster industry, and drive innovation in Angola;
Intergenerational Justice – managing mineral wealth responsibly to preserve it for future generations.
“It is essential to reinforce the effective implementation of mining authority, encourage the development of legal precedent and regulation, promote academic research and institutional dialogue, and adapt our legal system to the era of critical minerals and the energy transition,” he stated.
As part of this training initiative, 40 specialists are participating in the program, which consists of 12 modules. Topics include:
Mastery of key legal instruments in the sector
Application of rules and investment acquisition strategies
Extinction, transfer, and operation of mining rights
This educational effort is aimed at equipping Angola’s professionals with the legal expertise necessary to support the country’s mining sector in line with national development goals.
