Angola Mining: Cabinet grants new artisanal diamond mining rights

The government of Angola has approved rights for artisanal diamond mining in a total area of nearly 500 square kilometres in the northern interior of the country, to two private consortiums, according to official orders. The concessions are granted, according to the orders from the Ministry of Geology and Mines of 6 Marc, to Organização de Exploração Artesanal e Semi-Industrial de Diamantes (Organisation for Artisanal and Semi-Industrial Diamonds Exploration – OEASID) in the Cuango basin, and to the Nharea Diamond cooperative, in the Dando Kwanza area.

The first extends over an area of 187 square kilometres and the second covers 306 square kilometres, between the provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul.

These two artisanal diamond concessions allow the use of semi-industrial equipment, according to their orders, signed by Minister Francisco Queiroz, under the terms of the Mining Code and the Private Investment Law.

Of total Angolan diamond production last year, 8.75 million carats of industrial production went to export, valued in US$1.308 billion. (macauhub/AO)