Luanda, Angola, 31 May – Angola’s Minister of Geology, Mines and Industry, Joaquim David, has announced that a National Geology Plan will be produced in the near future, with a view to conducting a geological survey of all Angolan territory.

David made his comments on Friday in Dar es Salaam, at the opening session of the 30th meeting of the Governing Council of the Southern and Eastern African Mineral Centre (SEAMIC).

The Angolan government aims to increase production of mineral resources by diversifying mining activity in the short and middle terms, he said.

Quoted by the Jornal de Angola newspaper, David added that Angola is reworking its mining laws and policy to make them more attractive for investment. He also announced plans to implement training programmes for Angolan personnel in different specialty areas related to geology such as legal, economic and management aspects.

SEAMIC was founded in 1977. Its members are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, the Comoros and Angola, which joined in 1985, along with Sudan as an observer.

The institution held its 29th meeting in Luanda in May 2009. Its aim is to facilitate coordination, harmonisation and access to the development of mining resources and to provide support services to the sub-region. (macauhub)