Angola should extract nearly 60,000 cubic metres of ornamental stone and export 35,000 cubic metres by the end of this year, said Geology and Mines Minister Francisco Queiroz in Luanda.

Forecasts also indicate that 65,000 cubic metres will be extracted in 2017, of which 38,000 cubic metres will be exported, Queiroz added in his speech to participants in the Geoformando seminar for journalists and opinion-makers.

The ornamental stone subsector currently counts 14 operational companies, which should be joined by 9 more this year, reports Angop news agency.

Pig iron projects in Cassinga and in Cuando Cubango province should get under way by 2018 and produce 1.7 million tons of iron ore, the minister stated.

Other projects involve iron ore projects in Kassala Kitungo and Cerca in Kwanza Norte province and phosphates in Cabinda and Zaire provinces.

The training seminar for journalists was organised bearing in mind the geology sector’s eventual impact on the changing base of the Angolan economy. (Macauhub)