Longonjo - A delegation of 18 ambassadors accredited to Angola visited the rare earths production project in Longonjo municipality, central Huambo Province, on Wednesday.
The delegation, led by the charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Angola and São Tomé, James Story, traveled 64 kilometers by train between the main station of the Benguela Railway (CFB) in the city of Huambo and the municipality of Longonjo.
Accompanied by the local governor, Pereira Alfredo, the ambassadors were received by the National Manager of Ozango Minerais, Geraldine Máquina, who explained the status of the project, with construction of the infrastructure set to begin in May.
This will include support facilities for the mine and a refinery that will pave the way for the start of exploration in 2027 for aldehydes, the commercial value of which will be limited to neodymium and prazeondimium, which will be used to produce super strong magnets.
These magnets will be used to boost the transition to green energy, the production of wind turbines, electric cars and other electronics.
Speaking to the press, the British Ambassador to Angola, Bharat Joshi, said it was a very important project being developed by Pensana, a British company.
According to the diplomat, the mine will serve the energy transition in the world, as it will benefit the local population with jobs, electricity and development for the country, the province of Huambo and the municipality of Longonjo in particular.
The diplomat said that the United Kingdom has invested more than 300 billion US dollars in the project, which could increase, with the aim of bringing sustainable economic development and more employment opportunities for the citizens of Huambo province.
Rare earths
The Longonjo rare earths deposit is located near the Lobito railway corridor, 64 kilometers west of the city of Huambo in central Angola.
The project, which is currently under development, includes an open pit mine, concentration and recovery facilities, tailings storage facility (designed to meet the requirements of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management), process water supply, bulk power supply, mine infrastructure, workshops, offices, accommodation village, recreational facilities and other related infrastructure.
ALH/TED/AMP
