Luanda - Angola's first gold refinery, which is being built in the Viana Industrial Complex, in Luanda City, is to come into operation in 2025, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, announced on Tuesday.
The infrastructure, whose first stone was laid in June 2022, is the result of the Angolan government's commitment to promoting the country's mineral value chain by capitalizing on prospecting, exploration, transformation and resource operations.
The country's first gold refinery is an initiative of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, through Geoangol, a company owned by Angolan National Diamond Company (ENDIAMA), which expects to employ more than 80 workers.
The Head of State, who spoke at the opening of the 3rd Legislative Session of the 5th Legislature, during his Message on the State of the Nation, said that the government will continue working to consolidate the diversification of mineral exploration.
João Lourenço also announced that 10 gold exploration projects are in operation, with emphasis on those at Buco Zau and the entry into operation of Lufo, in Cabinda Province, as well as Chicuamone, in the province of Huíla, which are boosting the local economy and contributes to the creation of jobs.
The gold extraction project called Lufo Mining Society and Auriferous, expects to produce 10 kg of this product per month.
The Chicuamone Mining Society plans to have a washing machine with capacity to process 150 tons/hour.
On the other hand, he said that the diamond sector was deeply affected by the fall in prices for rough natural diamonds, mainly due to the global economic slowdown, the availability of large volumes of synthetic diamonds and the excess of polished diamonds on the international market.
The official said that in the diamond sector, cutting capacity continues to increase, with the factory having been created in the Saurimo Diamond Development Hub, bringing the total number of factories opened since 2018 to eight.
João Lourenço added that these projects are creating employment opportunities for local youth and contributing to the country's social and economic development, with another five factories under construction, having emphasized that investments in diamond production and polishing justify changing the management of diamons, as well as commercialization methods.
The Head of State recalled that the country will soon have the Angola Diamond Exchange, a structure that will play a fundamental role in this field.
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