Bengo: Bengo province currently holds 36 mining licenses, comprising prospecting projects, exploration projects, and mining licenses, as reported by Elvice Soares, National Director of Geological Mining Concessions and Mines at the National Agency for Mineral Resources. This announcement was made on Thursday during a visit by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo.
According to Angola Press News Agency, 34 mining projects have been identified in Bengo province, with 18 designated for prospecting and 16 for exploration, alongside two granite extraction projects. The status of these mining licenses reveals that the province has 19 active prospecting titles, while one has expired. In the exploration phase, there are 13 active titles and three that have expired.
The operational status of these projects shows that five prospecting projects are active, eight are inactive, six are in the mobilization phase, and one is suspended. In the exploration sector, eight projects are operating normally, seven remain inactive, one is in the mobilization phase, and another is halted.
Elvice Soares expressed concerns regarding the absence of registration of mining titles for the extraction of construction aggregates in the national registry since 2018. He urged companies in the sector to regularize their status with the relevant authorities. The legislation outlines specific limits for mining concession areas, with ornamental stone extraction permitted in areas ranging from 10 to 50 hectares, construction aggregates limited to five to 10 hectares, and crushed stone extraction not exceeding 50 hectares around the mineral deposit.
Soares emphasized the importance of adhering to current mining legislation to manage the province's mineral resources efficiently and sustainably. The meeting was attended by the Provincial Governor of Bengo, Maria Ant³nia Nelumba, members of the provincial government, national directors from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, municipal administrators, and business leaders from the sector, among other guests.
The National Agency for Mineral Resources (ANRM) is tasked with regulating, overseeing, and promoting mining investment, as well as managing the process of granting mining rights, except for inert materials, in compliance with the legal framework governing the sector.
