Luanda, Angola, 27 July – Diamond production in Angola is set to fall to seven million carats in 2009, compared to 8.9 last year, said Alberto Fancony, director of Planning and Finance for Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de Angola ( Endiama), Friday in Luanda.

He also admitted that the current financial crisis in the sector would last until the end of this year.

Angola currently has 172 mining concessions in 14 provinces.

Alberto Fancony also said that Endiama was currently looking for the best economic solutions to resolve the problem of mineral deposits that were running out.

In 1975 Angola saw production of 991,630 carats which has fluctuated in following years, reaching 4,251,400 in 2000 and 9,447,380 in 2006.

The evolution of sales from industrial and traditional production in 2000 was 4,251,000 carats, while in 2006 it reached 9,447,000 carats.

Revenue from industrial and traditional production was valued at 729 million in 2000 and 1,209 million in 2006 (macauhub)