Angola intends to make itself an attractive site for mining investors, both foreign and local. Part of this process is a programme to overhaul the country’s Ministry of Geology and Mines. “We want to transfer to the Geology and Mines public service an entrepreneurial, enterprising vision and the capacity to perform,” affirmed Geology and Mines Minister Francisco Queiroz, reported the Angolan news agency Angop. He was speaking at the official inauguration of four new top (and some other senior) officials in the Ministry. “The best way to secure the investor and investment is to create a suitable institutional environment and for which [purpose] we have the cadres we have now inaugurated.”

The four officials are Director of the Studies, Planning and Statistics Office Fausto Simões; Director of the Legal Office José Celestino; Director of the Human Resources Office Luciano Canhanga; and Director of the Office of the Secretary of State for Mines Norberto Benjamin. At the same time, three advisers to the Minister were also inaugurated – his economic adviser, José Ganga Júnior; his legal adviser, António Pedro da Cruz; and his strategic adviser, José Patrício. Other appointments made were for the advisers to the Secretary of State for Geology and for the Secretary of State for Mines, as well as the secretary of the Secretary of State for Mines. (Secretary of State is equivalent to Deputy Minister in South Africa.)

This overhaul of the Ministry and its agencies is one of three elements in the Angolan government’s programme to stimulate the mining industry and diversify the country’s economy away from its current heavy dependence on oil and gas. (Angola is the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria, and oil accounts for 98% of export revenues.) The other two elements are the minerals code that was adopted in late 2011 and the National Geology and Mines Plan (known by the Portuguese acronym Planageo, for short). Queiroz noted that the country needed properly trained and equipped technical and scientific personnel to be able to execute mining projects. He pointed out that his new officials fell within these categories and also had executive powers.

Concerning the implementation of the Planageo, the Minister assured that it was progressing well and would be completed on schedule. Despite the effects of the fall in the oil price, “[w]e have the assurance that no financial difficulties can hamper the tempo of Planageo”. The plan includes the construction of three geological laboratories, in Kilamba (in Luanda) and in the provinces of Huíla and Lunda Sul. These are all at a very advanced stage and are all expected to be completed within the established time scales (18 months from the start of construction), he stated.

Another element of the Planageo is a geological survey of the country, which is now under way. This should be completed by the end of this year. This includes geophysical and geochemical as well as geological surveys. For the purpose of these surveys, the country has been divided into blocks, seven of which have now been surveyed, Queiroz reported. The data collected is being analysed by companies contracted by the Ministry. This data will be used to produce a national geological map at a scale of 1: 250 000, a map of metal ores at 1: 100 000 and a map of construction minerals at 1: 50 000.

The Minister also pointed out that the Ministry was busy drawing up a register of geoscientists and related experts and specialists and was preparing the National Conference of Geoscience Specialists. In the legal area, priority was being given to the drawing up of a statue to create a Social Fund for (Mine) Workers and to the creation of a statute covering the taxes and incentives for the mining of aggregates.