Angola Aims to Speed Up Mining Rights Approvals to Attract More Foreign Investment and Improve Sector Transparency
Angola is preparing to shorten the timeframe required to award mining permits as part of a broader effort to attract greater investment into the country’s growing minerals sector.
Minerals and Petroleum Minister Diamantino Azevedo said the National Agency of Mineral Resources (ANRM) must reduce bureaucracy, strengthen inspections, and accelerate the rollout of a digital mining registry to improve transparency. His comments were delivered during an event with the regulator.
Azevedo urged ANRM to streamline permit processing, though he did not specify current timeframes or the expected reductions. A more efficient system, he said, is essential for supporting exploration and ensuring Angola remains competitive in the global mining landscape.
ANRM chairman Jacinto Rocha noted that the agency will enhance enforcement and promote diversification as Angola advances new mineral projects. Recent copper discoveries in Moxico and Cuando Cubango, along with lithium identified in Namibe province, require tighter oversight as exploration activity expands.
The reforms come as Angola seeks to strengthen its non-oil minerals sector and attract international capital. Global companies such as Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines, and Tyranna Resources are among the foreign explorers already active in the country’s mining industry.
