Saurimo - The Luele mine, located in Saurimo municipality, Lunda-Sul province, produced a total of 4.4 million carats of diamonds in the first year of operation.
With the Luele mine entering into operation in November 2023, the authorities expect the country to produce 14.6 million carats of diamonds this year, surpassing the 9.77 million produced in 2023.
By the end of this year, Sociedade Mineira do Luele expects to produce 5.4 million carats of diamonds, while in 2026, the company expects gross revenues of around 1.9 billion US dollars.
The information was disclosed Saturday by the Luele mine CEO, Rómulo Mucasse, as part of the celebrations of the mine's first anniversary, stressing that of the diamonds produced, at least 1.6 million carats have been sold.
Without revealing the amount collected, Mucasse said that 3.8 million tons of ore have been processed and that during its one year of existence, the mine generated 2,441 direct jobs, representing an increase of 1,058 workers compared to November 2023, when it was inaugurated.
The Luaxe mine, considered the largest diamond project in the country and the third largest kimberlite in the world, with estimated reserves of 350 million carats, will have a useful life of 30 years.
It is a primary deposit mine (kimberlite) and currently employs 2,441 nationals and foreigners.
When it reaches its peak, the mine, located on an area of 104 hectares, could have an annual production of 8.5 million carats of diamonds, around 75% of current production.
In order to implement the mine, a total of 637.5 million dollars were invested, 65 percent of which was spent on mining, 25 percent on building the treatment plant, technological equipment and 10 percent on related infrastructure.
The consortium is made up of Sociedade Mineira de Catoca (50.5%), ENDIAMA EP. (25%), Falcon (19.5%), Reform (4%) and IGEO (1%). EM/JW/HD/AMP
