Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, has officially inaugurated the Buco Zau gold project, located in the Cabinda province in Northern Angola.
With an installed washing capacity of 150 tons per hour, the project was developed by Angolan mining company Mineração Buco Zau, and is expected to play an instrumental part in supporting the Ministry’s diversification efforts.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony last week, Azevedo reiterated the role gold continues to play in the country, and that the Buco Zau project will likely be used as feedstock for a future refinery in the country.
“The ministry is also committed, besides the promotion of more gold projects, to create a gold refinery, so that we can start refining gold here in our country and we count on the production of this enterprise, which we think in a while will be bigger than what they presented here today,” Azevedo stated.
The minister added that his ministry and the National Agency of Mineral Resources are open to and seeking collaborations with mining firms and investors to expand Angola’s gold exploration, production and refining capacity.
Citing the role gold plays in supporting economic growth through job creation, capacity building and infrastructure roll-out, the Minister urged stakeholders “to develop more mining projects, because we are proud to see more projects emerging, projects that take care of our environment, the social aspects and, above all, projects made by Angolans, by Angolan companies.”