De Beers Group, Angola’s National Mineral Resource Agency, Angola’s state-owned diamond company, Endiama, and Angola’s state-owned diamond trading company, Sodiam, have joined forces by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing Angola’s diamond sector. The signing ceremony, held at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, marks a significant step towards increasing diamond production, supporting the growth of alluvial diamond mining, and fostering social development opportunities for the citizens of Angola.
The MoU builds upon De Beers Group’s existing partnership with Angola, following the signing of two Mineral Investment Contracts (MICs) in 2022 for licence areas in northeastern Angola, where exploration activities are currently underway. It outlines key areas of collaboration between the parties, focusing on shared initiatives such as evaluating kimberlite deposits to assess their economic viability using innovative De Beers technologies, promoting transparency and traceability in diamond production, and identifying opportunities to enhance local community capacity through De Beers Group’s Building Forever sustainability framework.
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, expressed his enthusiasm about strengthening the partnership with Angola and collaborating with the government, Endiama, and Sodiam to further develop the diamond sector for the benefit of the Angolan people. He commended Angola for its commitment to transparency, adoption of internationally recognized best practices, and creation of a conducive investment environment. Cook highlighted De Beers’ return to Angola in 2022 as a significant milestone and expressed optimism about the country’s bright future in the diamond industry. He affirmed his dedication to working closely with partners in Angola to leverage collective expertise and ambition in supporting a thriving diamond sector.
Ganga Júnior, CEO of Endiama, emphasized the strategic nature of the partnership, stating its goal of increasing diamond production in Angola to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development. This collaboration signifies a concerted effort to unlock the potential of Angola’s diamond sector, paving the way for sustainable growth and prosperity.
