The second edition of the Angola International Diamond Conference will take place from October 23 to October 24 at the Saurimo Diamond Hub in Saurimo, the capital of Lunda Sul Province, according to the country’s mineral resources ministry.
The inaugural conference took place in the same city in November 2021.
The ministry said it would bring together experts and industry players to offer an opportunity for companies and stakeholders in the Angolan diamond industry to share experiences and establish new connections.
The event, it said, would also further promote the Angolan diamond sector, as it is a strategic mineral for the diversification of the national economy.
"Now that the Luele concession is reaching normal production capacity, Angola will soon effectively be doubling the country's annual output and generating significant added value in terms of state revenue," said mines minister Diamantino Pedro Azevedo.
The Luele mine is located about 20 km from the Catoca mine, representing one of the most promising diamond deposits discovered in over a decade. Luele's resources contain an estimated 628 million carats of diamonds with a lifetime of 60 years.
Topics to be analysed at the conference include geological mining research, diamond exploration in Angola, diamond polishing, technological innovation, logistics in the industry, and the semi-industrial sector.
It will also address the Kimberley Process and the G7 developments on Russian sanctions and give special attention to the role of natural diamonds in the market as opposed to synthetics.
Representatives of the Natural Diamond Council are expected to address the uniqueness of natural diamonds as well as the campaigns being organised to motivate consumers around the world about the social responsibility and sustainability of the natural diamond industry.
"The conference aims to provide opportunities to further build relationships between companies and the government, focusing on fueling dynamic discussions that stimulate technological innovation and growth," said Azevedo.
Exhibitions on geological information, mining operations, mining equipment, support services to the mining industry and jewellery will also run on the sidelines of the conference.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
