Angola has taken a major step toward economic diversification as the Tetelo copper mine, the country’s first large-scale copper operation, begins production.
The milestone marks a strategic move to reduce reliance on oil and harness opportunities in clean energy minerals.
According to Mines Minister Diamantino Azevedo, the $250 million project, owned by China’s Shining Star Icarus, is expected to produce around 25,000 metric tons of copper concentrate annually during its initial two years of operation.
The mine will begin as an open-pit project, with plans to transition to underground mining by mid-2026, as reported by Reuters.
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The launch of Tetelo underscores Angola’s growing ambition to attract global investment into critical minerals that are essential for renewable energy technologies, including electric vehicles and solar systems.
Alongside copper, other strategic minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel are gaining importance in the global shift toward clean energy.
International mining giants like Ivanhoe Mines and Anglo American are also exploring new copper ventures in Angola, signalling the country’s emergence as a key player in Africa’s energy-transition mineral market.
Despite its new focus on minerals, oil remains the backbone of Angola’s economy.
As Africa’s third-largest oil producer, the country has struggled with declining output, a trend that has intensified efforts to diversify revenue streams.
One of Angola’s flagship diversification projects, the Cabinda refinery, is nearing completion. The refinery — the first built since independence nearly five decades ago — is expected to start fuel production before the end of 2025. Once operational, it will process 30,000 barrels of oil per day, reducing the country’s reliance on imported fuel.
The refinery’s completion also coincides with government efforts to phase out costly fuel subsidies, a policy shift that has historically sparked public unrest but is considered vital for fiscal sustainability.
By pairing energy-sector reform with mining expansion, Angola is positioning itself as a renewable-resource hub in Southern Africa, blending its legacy as an oil powerhouse with a future built on clean energy minerals.
