Saurimo - The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino de Azevedo, announced on Wednesday that Angola intends to voluntarily implement a diamond tracking system to allow the strategic mineral to be sold without any doubt about its origin.
Speaking at the opening of the 2nd International Diamond Conference of Angola, taking place in Lunda-Sul province, the minister said the measure is intended to reinforce the government's strategic vision of making Angola a mining country of excellence, taking advantage of its countless mineral occurrences, as evidenced by geological surveys under the National Geology Plan (PLANAGEO).
The minister added that the state diamond company SODIAM has already acquired some equipment and, during the conference, the G7 certification system and the benefits for Angola's diamond marketing system will be presented.
Diamantino de Azevedo added that Angola has joined and submitted periodic reports under the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) to ensure better management of mineral resources, reducing the risks of embezzlement or misappropriation of funds generated by companies, including diamonds, and ensuring greater and better cooperation between the government, industry and civil society.
The minister underlined that in terms of transparency and related issues, the country’s diamond export process also has Kimberley Process (PK) certification.
Diamantino de Azevedo stressed that the 2nd conference aims to increase the potential of the diamond industry throughout its value chain to generate lasting benefits for the country's economy, resulting in significant gains on distant scales, and that Angolan citizens should be increasingly included as protagonists in the various phases.
According to the minister, the event seeks to intensify the attraction of significant and strategic investments to this “important” segment of the economy, emphasizing the role that Angola's diamonds can play in the country's socio-economic development.
Semi-industrial mining
The minister added that the semi-industrial exploitation, regulated in Presidential, which will be the subject of one of the panels, is an instrument that makes it possible for Angolan citizens organized in small and medium-sized companies to participate in the small-scale diamond mining process.
Diamantino de Azevedo said that this is a way that the government seeks to empower Angolan citizens, reduce unemployment and create wealth.
“We can't go along with bad practices such as illegal mining, which attracts illegal immigration, violates human rights, destroys the environment and doesn't comply with the precepts of good mining practice,” the minister said.JW/HD/TED/AMP
