Dundo - The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino de Azevedo, is today in Lunda Norte province, where, among several issues, he will inaugurate the headquarters of Fundação Brilhante, Endiama Mining and the Furi mine, as part of the commemorations of Miners' Day, to be held on the 27th of this month.
On his arrival at Kamaquenzo airport, the government official was received by the governor of Lunda Norte, Ernesto Muangala, with whom he had a courtesy meeting, to discuss some issues linked to his sector, aimed at the province.
During the commemorative day of the Miners' Day, the minister will also witness the inauguration of a 12-classroom school in Fucauma, Cambulo municipality, built by Endiama.
The Cabinet minister's delegation also includes the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Jânio Correia Victor, who will travel to Cuango municipality to inaugurate several social projects.
Minister Diamantino de Azevedo's schedule includes a trip, by land, to the city of Saurimo, Lunda Sul province, on Thursday, where among other issues he will inaugurate the delegation of the Brilhante Foundation.
The National Mining Workers' Day was established by Resolution 6/85 of 15 April, of the then Defence and Security Council, in recognition of the role of workers in that sector in transforming Angola's mining potential into real wealth.
The history of diamond prospecting and exploration in Angola dates back to 1912 and 1917, when the first seven stones were discovered in the Tchiumbwe river, northeast of the Cambulo municipality in Lunda Norte province, by Johnston and Mac Vey, in November 1912, in the Mussalala stream, a tributary of the Chiumbe river, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), giving rise to the establishment of the Mining Research Company of Angola (PEMA).
The rights of the company, set up to conduct diamond research, prospecting and exploration, were transferred to the Angola Diamonds Company (Diamang) five years later.
