Africa-Press – Angola. Located in the region of Mavoio, commune of Kibokolo, municipality of Maquela do Zombo, last May the laying of the first stone for the construction of the Tetelo Mine was approved by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino de Azevedo, since then, the movement of men and machines in that region has become the routine of several young people.
Press found that the young people now employed work as drivers, geology and mine laboratory technicians, researchers, machinists, carpenters, bricklayers, among others.
Motivated by the new occupation, depending on their specialty, each one does what they know how, however, the objective is to create the necessary conditions to efficiently and safely extract the copper, zinc, lead, gold and other resources that the mine conserves. Essentially, as Alberto Manzambi, drilling technician, points out, most young people are happy to participate in the project to open the mine.
“We’ve waited a long time to get a job, but now we’re going to put into practice everything we’ve learned in the field of Exploration and Exploration of Miners. I’m satisfied”, said Alberto Manzambi.
Januário Mendes, 27 years old, is another young man who is now also working on the works underway at the Tetelo Mine. A professional driver, he says that his dream came true, which is why he feels that, more than ever, he has an open path to provide better living conditions for his family.
“It took a while, but it arrived. I have been doing my best to contribute to the development of my province and the country”, said Alberto Manzambi, underlining the turning point that his life took after minister Diamantino de Azevedo laid the first stone for construction from the mine.
The chief of Nvuanga, Ndombaxi Miguel, points out that the time is right for many young people from Maquela do Zombo and neighboring areas to get a job.
“Everything seemed like a dream, but now we are seeing with our own eyes that the time has come for our children to work very close to home”, said Ndombaxi Miguel, having advised the other young people to invest more and more in technical and professional training .
The Deputy Director of Shining Star Icarus, the company promoting the initiative, Rui Lopes, For the first phase of exploration, says that 210 permanent jobs were created and within a few months this number could increase to 500, with the creation expected around one thousand fixed jobs by the end of the works.
Rui Lopes explains that the mine has a total extension of 1,955 square kilometers, covering the regions of Mavoio, Maquela do Zombo, Quimbumba, Pecheche and Bembe, and a useful life of over ten years. In this first one, Rui Lopes also made it known that only a perimeter of four kilometers will be built. Later, with the development of new research and prospecting, it will be extended.
Before the official laying of the first stone, Rui Lopes recalls that, over approximately 14 years, when work began, 70 million dollars were spent on research, prospecting and project evaluation work, having determined that the Tetelo project has the conditions for exploration.
“An aerogeophysical survey, IP, excavations and soundings, drilling and other prospecting works were also carried out, especially in the locations of Quimbumba, Pecheche and Bembe and many other targets have been identified”, he said.
Press knows that construction of the mine is scheduled for a period of 27 months, with the first production phase starting at the end of next year. In addition to having an estimated reserve for an exploration period of three years, when the mine reaches full operation, four thousand tons of copper can be extracted per day.
environmental safety
The deputy director of the company Shining Star Icarus ensures that measures have been created to safeguard environmental safety.
“We established all the international assumptions that govern the Mining Exploitation Law and we were awarded a license with a minimum period of five years”, he said.
Rui Lopes advances that workers have been provided with a safe, healthy and productive work environment. In this regard, he stresses that compliance with applicable laws and regulations in terms of health and safety at work are challenges for the company.
With a total investment estimated at US$275 million, the project will be built by SinoHydro and China Power and will be 880 meters deep. Rich in copper, zinc and lead, the Mavoio-Tetelo-Bembe concession area is more precisely located in the north of Angola, in the province of Uíge and within the belt of Western Congo.
development impact
The provincial governor of Uíge, José Carvalho da Rocha, considers that the project represents a great investment, judging by the employment opportunities and the impact on the socio-economic development of the region.
“It is a great opportunity for the creation of new jobs and development in the region”, he said.
Budgeted at around 104 billion kwanzas, at the exchange rate on the day, the official made it clear that the infrastructure works at the mine reinforce the foundations intended for the economic growth of the popularly known province of red bago.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
