Endiama, the Angolan state-owned diamond company, is to start production at the Calonda alluvial mine in the Lunda Norte province and at the Tchege mine in the Lunda Sul province in the first half of 2013, said Chief Executive Officer Carlos Sumbula.
The company will also start exploration work at the Maua alluvial operation in the province of Malanje, and activity will commence at the Uari mine in the first six months of this year, he added in comments cited by Angpop, the Angola Press Agency.
In addition, the Diamond Hotel in the capital, Luanda, with the construction of 200 apartments will be completed, and the handing over of the first 150 apartments to employees of the Catoca diamond project will begin in Saurimo in Lunda Sul.
Sumbula also said that Endiama is carrying out geological work for the creation of a geophysical mineral map of Angola’s diamond regions together with Russia's Alrosa firm, saying that work on the project is at an advanced stage.