Angola to Begin Copper Production Mavoio Mine in September
The Mavoio copper mine, located in the municipality of Maquela do Zombo in Angola’s Uíge Province, is set to begin operations this September, entering its first phase of production with an expected output of 2,500 tons of copper per day.
This marks a significant step for the country’s mining industry and regional development.
According to a statement from the provincial government of Uíge, the mine has a total exploration capacity of 4,000 tons per day.
The project spans an area of 2,000 square kilometers and includes both open-pit and underground mining operations. Prospecting at the site began in 2010.
The announcement was made during a visit to the site on Tuesday by Uíge Governor José Carvalho da Rocha, who emphasized the mine’s potential to boost economic growth and generate employment in the region.
“This project represents a major development opportunity for the province and for Angola as a whole.
It will create much-needed jobs, especially for our youth,” the governor said. He also highlighted ongoing road rehabilitation and erosion control works to improve access to the site and support logistics.
“We are on the right track. We want this project to become a flagship for the northern region,” Rocha added.
In this initial phase, mining will begin with the open-pit operation. According to Rui Lopes, deputy director of the mining company Shining Star Icarus, underground mining is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
Lopes explained that the open-pit mine will extend one kilometer in length and reach depths of up to 250 meters.
The underground section will be 1,630 meters long, with 630 meters already completed. Full excavation is expected by mid-2026.
The Mavoio and Tetelo copper project has a total investment of $250 million, with $205 million already committed.
The project includes two licensed exploration areas covering approximately 3,000 and 7,000 square kilometers respectively.
Currently, the mining project employs 1,080 workers—708 of them Angolan and the rest expatriates, primarily from China.
The timeline aligns with earlier announcements made in June 2023 by Angola’s Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Jânio Corrêa Victor, who confirmed that the Mavoio mine was on track to begin copper production in 2025.
With its large-scale operations, significant investment, and employment impact, the Mavoio mine is expected to play a key role in Angola’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and strengthen its mining sector.
SOURCE:https://angolanminingoilandgas.com
