Satellite Boost for Angola’s Diamond Industry

Date: 23 Nov, 2023 | By John Jeffay

Angola’s national diamond company is now using a combination of cutting-edge satellite technology, AI and ChatGPT to map mining assets and activity.

Endiama says the Tech-Minas earth observation technology, using Angola’s newly-launched satellite, will help with prospecting, exploration, and sales.

It will also assist in the ongoing battle against widespread illegal diamond mining and trafficking.

Tech-Minas harnesses the power of Angola’s satellite, Angosat-2, which was launched last October in Russia, together with ChatGPT, which allows users to interact using natural language.

The geospatial data platform was designed specifically for diamond mining operations by Endiama and the National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN).

One of its primary goals is to identify and prevent illegal diamond extraction activities, especially in the eastern Lunda Norte province, where there are an estimated 700 illegal mining sites.

It will also provide high-resolution images that will help identify new diamond deposits. Angola is currently the world’s fourth biggest diamond producer, but has yet to explore 60 per cent of its diamond-rich territories.

Endiama, founded in 1981 as the exclusive concessionaire of Angola’s diamond mining rights, aims to make Angola into one of the world’s three biggest diamond producers within the next decade.

Angola exported 8.75m carats last year, well down on its original forecast of 13.8m, but total revenue was $1.95bn, said the Ministry for Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, an increase of almost a quarter on $1.5bn in 2021.

​Dr Zolana Joao, general manager of GGPEN, announcing the launch of Tech-Minas last month, said Angola’s mining sector was a major contributor to Angola’s economic growth.

“GGPEN, with its strategic focus on harnessing the potential of the Angolan Space Programme, has once again demonstrated its commitment to serving as a pivotal support system for critical sectors of the Angolan economy, particularly the diamond industry,” he said.

José Manuel Ganga Júnior, Endiama’s chairman, said Angola would save money and get an improved service using its own satellite and its own tech, rather than subcontracting to external providers.

Meanwhile, the second Angola Mining Conference and Exhibition (AMC 2023) is taking place this week (23 and 24 November) in Luanda, with over 350 delegates and more than 80 speakers.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, will focus on sustainability issues around Angola’s mineral resources.

It will include a dedicated session entitled Challenges of the International Diamond Market, with insights from Dr Luiz Bizzi, co-chairman of Lipari Diamond Mines Ltd.