The Catoca Mining Society (SMC)longs achieve, in the coming years, second place in the world ranking, in the field of exploration, production and invoicingfor such, has been investing in the training of its staff, in the use of new technologies and cutting-edge equipment, for the treatment and recovery of diamonds.
The information was released today, Thursday, in Saurimo, by the company’s general director, Sergei Amelin, during a press conference, promoted by the Communication and Image sector of SMC, on the occasion of April 27th, Miner’s Day.
The manager said that the future of SMC, which is to become the second diamond exploration company in the world, is related to the Luaxe mine, which will be twice as large as the current Catoca deposit.
On the other hand, he said that Catoca has been working to reduce operational and specific costs as much as possible, with regard to ore treatment, through the implementation of new technologies.
“As a result of this investment, in 2017, the company managed to reduce 10 dollars for each operational cost, namely miner operations per cubic meter, miner treatment per tons and carats produced”, he maintained.
As for the mining mass, Sergei Amelin made it known that 15 million and 700 thousand cubic meters were produced in 2017, of which 10 million and 150 thousand are solid rocks and five million and 500 thousand ores.
11 million and 500 tons of ores were treated, which resulted in the production of seven million and 700 thousand carats of diamonds.
“Despite not reaching the planned production values, in terms of specific costs and increased productivity, we managed to fulfill the tasks guided by the shareholders”, he concluded.
Sociedade Mineira de Catoca is an Angolan diamond prospecting, exploration, recovery and marketing company, formed by Endiama (Angola), Alrosa (Russia) LLV (China) and Odebrecht (Brazil).