• Angola plans faster permitting and digital reforms to draw new mining investors
• Government targets 2 billion $ in non-diamond mining investment by 2027
• New copper and rare earths projects advance, but diamonds still dominate output

Angola plans to reduce administrative procedures and shorten the time needed to issue mining permits, Minister of Mines and Petroleum Diamantino Azevedo said on November 20. The announcement, reported by Bloomberg, is part of efforts to make the country more attractive to investors and accelerate the diversification of a mining sector still dominated by diamond production.

The minister did not specify the current duration of the permitting process or the extent of the intended reduction. He also did not clarify whether the revised timeline will apply to all types of mining titles, including operating licenses. These are the most critical for project development, as they allow companies to begin construction on projects considered economically viable. A 2024 study by S&P Global noted that the Democratic Republic of Congo has the world’s second-fastest mine development timeline, at 10 to 15 years. The report did not include Angola.

Alongside faster permitting, Luanda is implementing other reforms, such as the digitalization of the mining cadastre. Launched last month, the digital cadastre centralizes geological information and permit applications to simplify procedures and improve transparency.

According to the 2023–2027 national development plan, the short-term goal is to attract a cumulative $2 billion in non-diamond mining investment by 2027. In 2022, the mining sector accounted for 1.3% of Angola’s GDP. Authorities aim to raise this share to 1.6% by the end of the plan period by developing copper and rare earths activities.

Canadian company Ivanhoe Mines, co-owner of the largest copper mine in the DRC, and Australian group Rio Tinto have both signed agreements in recent years to carry out copper exploration in Angola. British company Pensana plans to open the country’s first rare earths mine by 2027 through the Longonjo project, with construction costs estimated at $217 million.

Minister Azevedo also announced last month the imminent start of production at Angola’s first industrial copper mine. While these developments show progress, it remains too early to assess their impact on the sector’s contribution to the national economy. In the meantime, the country continues to rely on its diamond industry, whose output is expected to reach a record level in 2025.

Emiliano Tossou