Angola’s first major copper mine, Tetelo, is set to begin production soon, Mines Minister Diamantino Azevedo said on Wednesday.
The launch marks a key step in the oil-rich nation’s strategy to expand into clean energy minerals.
The $250 million project, owned by China’s Shining Star Icarus, is expected to produce about 25,000 metric tons of copper concentrate annually during its first two years of operation.
The mine will start as an open-pit operation before transitioning to underground mining in the second half of 2026, according to Reuters.
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“I am honoured to announce the inauguration of the Tetelo mine, which will take place in a few days,” Azevedo said during a mining conference in Luanda.
“This event will mark the start of production at the first underground mine for this very important metal,” he added.
Global miners including Ivanhoe Mines and Anglo American are also exploring copper deposits in Angola. Copper, alongside key battery minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, is considered crucial to the global transition toward renewable energy.
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Image Credit: Further Africa
