A New Chapter for Angola’s Mining Portfolio
Angola is set to inaugurate its first large-scale copper mine on October 29, 2025, marking a turning point for a country long reliant on oil and diamonds. The $250 million Tetelo Project, jointly owned by Shining Star Icarus and Sociedade Mineira de Cobre de Angola, is expected to produce about 25,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per year during its initial two years. The project positions Angola as an emerging player in the regional copper corridor stretching from the DRC to Zambia, signaling diversification in the nation’s extractive portfolio.
From Exploration to Production
Located in Huíla province, the Tetelo site has undergone four years of exploration, infrastructure buildup, and community consultations. The project integrates modern environmental standards and tailings management systems designed to meet global compliance benchmarks. With international demand for copper surging amid the clean-energy transition, Angola’s entry into production represents both an economic milestone and a test of whether new mining ventures can deliver inclusive growth beyond export revenue.
Regional and Global Implications
The Tetelo launch aligns with the government’s Angola 2050 Vision, which seeks to attract diversified investment and reduce dependence on hydrocarbons. Analysts view the mine as a strategic complement to the copper supply chain in southern Africa, potentially easing bottlenecks in global markets dominated by the DRC and Zambia. If successfully managed, Angola could leverage Tetelo as the cornerstone of a new generation of critical mineral projects—anchored in transparency, efficiency, and regional cooperation.