Angola is intensifying efforts to position itself as a major player in the global critical minerals market, with Minerals and Petroleum Minister Diamantino Azevedo calling for accelerated permitting and stronger oversight across the sector.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with mining regulators, including the Angolan National Agency of Mineral Resources (ANRM), the minister stressed that delays in approvals and weak support systems are slowing investor confidence at a crucial time for the country’s diversification agenda.
Azevedo said Angola must act quickly to unlock capital inflows, support small and medium-sized mining enterprises and closely track projects that have yet to reach production.
“It is important to attract greater investments, support small and medium-sized companies and closely monitor projects that are not yet in the production phase.”
Diamantino Azevedo, Angola’s Minerals and Petroleum Minister
He urged regulators to modernise processes and remove bottlenecks in the licensing chain.
Accelerating Permitting to Compete Globally
The directive reflects Angola’s ongoing efforts to shift from dependence on oil which has dominated national revenue for decades to a broader minerals-driven economy.
With demand for copper, lithium and other strategic minerals rising globally amid the renewable energy transition, Angola is seeking to position itself as a reliable and competitive sourcing destination.
Azevedo told regulators that the speed and predictability of the permitting process will determine Angola’s success in attracting mining giants and international partners.
Slow licensing has been a frequent complaint among investors exploring new projects in the country’s resource-rich regions.
The directive signals a policy shift toward a more agile, investor-responsive regulatory environment to ensure Angola does not lose opportunities to competing jurisdictions across Africa and beyond.
Digital Mineral Registry to Boost Transparency
As part of the government’s broader reform agenda, Angola plans to introduce a digital mining registry aimed at streamlining mineral rights awards and reducing bureaucratic delays.
The digital system is expected to enhance transparency by providing real-time data on licenses, ownership structures and project statuses.
Regulators believe the platform will also help eliminate inconsistencies that have affected investor trust.
According to ANRM chairman Jacinto Rocha, the digital upgrade is essential as the country takes steps to regulate newly discovered critical minerals more effectively.
“The guidelines received will be applied based on the experience gained and the recommendations of an evaluation study of the first term.”
ANRM chairman Jacinto Rocha
Rocha noted that Angola must tighten oversight of recent copper discoveries in Moxico and Cuando Cubango and lithium resources identified in Namibe, due to their strategic economic value and global demand.
He said regulators will need to monitor these regions more closely to ensure sustainable and transparent development.
Angola’s ambitions are backed by abundant mineral wealth. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the country hosts vast deposits of manganese, copper, gold, phosphates, granite, marble, uranium, quartz, lead, zinc, wolfram, tin, fluorite, sulfur, feldspar, kaolin, mica, asphalt, gypsum and talc.
Balancing Mining Growth with Oil Sector Revival
While the country intensifies its push into critical minerals, Angola is also working to revive its oil sector, which has struggled with stagnant production due to limited investment in recent years.
Officials say the diversification drive is not intended to replace oil entirely but to complement it with new growth pillars.
The government hopes that a stronger mining sector, underpinned by streamlined regulation and investor-friendly reforms, will help stabilise national revenue while reducing Angola’s vulnerability to oil price fluctuations.
As the country races to attract investment into copper, lithium and other strategic minerals, the minister’s call for faster permitting is likely to set the tone for a new era of urgency and competitiveness in Angola’s mining policy landscape.
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