Angola’s mineral wealth runs deep — and increasingly diversified. Long synonymous with diamonds, the country is now positioning as a critical-minerals gateway for Southern Africa, with the Lobito Atlantic Corridor transforming the Atlantic port of Lobito into the natural export route for copper and cobalt from the DRC and Zambia.
Diamonds
The Catoca mine remains the world’s fourth-largest diamond mine. ENDIAMA, the state diamond company, partners with international operators including Lucapa Diamond Company and De Beers, which has re-entered the Angolan market under the post-2017 reforms.
Critical minerals and rare earths
Pensana’s Longonjo project is among the most advanced rare-earth projects outside China. Iron ore at Cassinga, copper at Mavoio, and emerging lithium prospects round out a sector being aggressively re-positioned for the energy transition.
The Lobito Corridor
Backed by US, EU, and World Bank co-financing, the Lobito Corridor is the largest single transport-and-mining infrastructure investment in Southern Africa, redirecting cobalt and copper export flows away from South African ports through Angola’s Atlantic coast.