Diamond Production in Angola To Reach 10 Million Carats
January 11, 07
By 2008, diamond production in Angola may reach ten million carats, according to Arnaldo Calado, chairman of the country’s state-owned diamond company, Endiama.
After speaking at the company’s 26th anniversary ceremony, Calado said that Endiama Research and Production (Endiama P&P), a subsidiary group, would begin independent diamond production in the Camazanza region of Lunda Norte province in June. The mining would be carried out over a 3,000 square kilometer area.
Diamond production in Angola began in 1917, with the establishment of the Companhia de Diamantes de Angola “Diamang,” a company owned by investors from Portugal, Belgium, the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.
In 1981, the Angolan authorities took over all production of diamonds in the country and set up Endiama.
Besides Endiama P&P, Endiama has as its subsidiary firms: Sodiam, Enditrad, Fundacao Brilhante, and Air Diamantes of Angola. It also has interests in the mining projects of Catoca, SDM, Luo, Fucauma, Luarica, Chimbongo, Chitotolo, SML, and Yetwene.