Malanje - The Angolan government has said it is intensifying the fight against illegal mineral resources exploration and fuel smuggling across the country, due to its growing trend.
The information was disclosed Friday, in Malanje, by the Secretary of State for Petroleum, José Alexandre Barroso, at the end of the Forum on Municipalities and Cities of Angola (FMCA), adding that one of the measures adopted has been to provide license for mining activity to permit that only legalized economic operators exploit these resources.
The official highlighted the government’s concern with illegal mining activity and fuel smuggling, underscoring that these practices of fuel smuggling occur mostly in Cabinda and Zaire provinces, from where large quantities are taken to some countries bordering Angola.
To tackle this situation, the Secretary of State said, the National Assembly approved, in recent days, a Law on smuggling, which punishes the perpetrators and retains the means used in the acts, in addition to withdrawing the exploration license, among other sanctions.
He reiterated that although it is claimed to be a form of subsistence for some families, the government does not allow this practice due to its harmful effects on the economy, which also, in some cases, culminate in the invasion of territory, child labor and environmental pollution.
Faced with this problem and with a view to clarifying municipal administrations and Provincial Governments, the Forum of Municipalities and Cities of Angola addressed the issue of illegal exploitation of mineral resources and their environmental impact in the country.
The event addressed the state of play of the Integrated Plan for Intervention in Municipalities (PIIM), Program to Combat Poverty and Social Monetary Transfers (KWENDA) through the participation of ministers, provincial governors and municipal administrators. NC/PBC/AMP
