Luanda, 01/10/2006- Diamond production
in Angola is expected to reach 10 million karat until 2008, against the eight
million reached in 2006, said Wednesday in Luanda the chairman of the State-run
exploration company`s managing board (ENDIAMA), Arnaldo Calado.
Speaking on the fringes of the ceremony opening the events celebrating the
firm`s 26th anniversary, Monday, December 15, Arnaldo Calado said all
Government`s strategies and guidelines for 2006 were fully accomplished.
He also said that one of the priorities for the company this year is to
commission the prospecting in the provinces of Malanje, Kwanza-Sul, Bi`, HuĦla,
Namibe, Cunene, UĦge and Moxico.
According to the source, ENDIAMA Research and Production, a subsidiary to
ENDIAMA group, will start independent production this year in the region of
Camazanza, northeastern Lunda-Norte.
He announced that the equipment for the start of small scale production are
currently being flown into the province of Lunda-Norte.
According to him, independent exploration of diamond by ENDIAMA P&P will be
carried out over an extension of 3,000 square kilometres.
In order to explore diamonds without the participation of third parties, ENDIAMA
P&P, set up in 2003, has trained qualified personnel capable of carrying out
research, evaluation and production activity.
The source said that as there are diamonds from the northern region of Angola`s
northern Cabinda province down to the southern part of Cunene province (south),
one of the priorities of ENDIAMA group this year is to focus on prospecting
works in the provinces of Malanje, Kwanza-Sul, Bi`, HuĦla, Namibe, Cunene, UĦje
and Moxico.
Diamond production in Angola started in 1917, with the emergence on October 16
that year of the Angola Diamond Company "DIAMANG", a firm that
operated on joint capitals from Portugal, Belgium, USA, England and South
Africa.
In 1981, Angolan authorities took over the full control of diamond production in
the country and set up ENDIAMA
Photo
Angop