Luanda: Huatong Angola Industry announced that the first phase of the company’s large-scale aluminum production project will be inaugurated on December 27 in the Barra do Dande Free Trade Zone (Bengo), the company’s CEO, Zhang Wendon said Tuesday.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Chinese business leader made the announcement at the end of a meeting with Angolan President Joo Louren§o. During the meeting, Zhang presented the progress of the investment, which is estimated at over 200 million U.S. dollars. The project is expected to create 1,200 direct jobs in the initial phase.
Zhang Wendon stated that all technical and operational conditions for production are in place. “The project is ready to begin operating, which marks the start of aluminum production in Angola,” he said.
The Secretary of State for Commerce, Augusta Fortes, emphasized the support of the Ministries of Energy and Water, Industry and Commerce, the investment agency AIPEX, and the Bengo government for the project’s implementation.
The project is part of the strategy to diversify the Angolan economy. Later phases will include the installation of processing units for aluminum byproducts, such as sheets, coils, alloys, and poles.
With an estimated total investment of 1.6 billion U.S. dollars, the project will be implemented in five phases over nearly a decade, positioning Angola as a future hub for aluminum production in sub-Saharan Africa.
Its strategic location in the Barra do Dande Free Trade Zone offers tax and logistical advantages. Some of the production will be exported, which will contribute to strengthening the trade balance, technical training for national professionals, and strengthening the metallurgical industry.
Huatong Angola Industry, Lda., a joint venture with majority Chinese capital, resulted from the association between HT International Trading Services (Singapore) Pte Ltd. and Huatong Holding (SEA) Pte Ltd., which are both subsidiaries of Hebei Huatong Wire and Cable Group Co., Ltd.
