Angola's Endiama Creating Diamond Mining Cooperatives Across Country

(IDEX Online) – Angola's state-owned diamond company Endiama is promoting the creation of semi-industrial cooperatives for diamond mining in all provinces of the country, according to company official Luís Kitamba.

The new model aims to organize activity in the production zones and bring together small-scale artisanal miners using basic tools such as shovels, machetes and picks.

Kitamba said that 12 cooperatives had already been set up in seven provinces of Angola whose employees had previously been engaged in diamond exploration.

The cooperatives provide work for more than 5,000 people, particularly former members of the armed forces, Kitamba said.

Cooperatives must comply with a set of obligations, including not allowing foreigners to enter, taking care of the exploration area, selling the diamonds found only to the diamond trading company Sodiam and complying with the standards set out in the Kimberley Process.