Technicians from the Portuguese National Laboratory for Energy and Geology (LNEG), over the next eight years, will survey the entirety of the southern region of Angola with a view to establishing which metallic minerals and industrial rocks can be found there, according to the Portuguese Economy Minister.

Speaking to Portuguese financial newspaper Diário Económico, Álvaro Santos Pereira also said that the 30 million-euro contract signed with the Angolan Geological Institute includes staff training and support for restructuring the institution.

“Portuguese know-how in this area is very important,” noted the minister adding that the work to “survey the geological potential of Angola’s territory, carried out as part of the strategic partnership between Portugal and Angola, becomes even more important when considering the common focus on geological resources.”

The minister said that the contract awarded to the LNEG was discussed during his most recent visit to Angola, “because there is a common interest from the two governments on this issue.”

As happened in Portugal, Angola plans to re-launch the local mining sector as a way of diversifying its sources of production and increasing its revenue sources, said Santos Pereira. (macauhub)