Angola’s first major copper mine, Tetelo, is set to begin production on 29 October as part of the country’s push to diversify its resource base beyond oil and tap into the growing demand for clean energy minerals.
Valued at $250 million, the Tetelo mine is owned by Shining Star Icarus a joint venture between China’s Shining Star International Group and Angola’s Sociedade Mineira de Cobre de Angola. It is expected to produce about 25,000 metric tonnes of copper concentrate annually in its first two years.
“I am honoured to announce the inauguration of the Tetelo mine, which will take place in a few days,” Mines Minister Diamantino Azevedo said at a conference in Luanda. “This event will mark the start of production at the first underground mine for this very important metal.”
Also Read: UAE Calls for Ceasefire, Civilian Transition in Sudan
Copper, alongside other battery metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, is crucial for the global transition to renewable energy.
According to Shining Star Icarus deputy managing director Rui Lopes, the mine will initially operate as an open-pit project before transitioning to underground mining in the second half of 2026.
Lopes added that the company has signed an offtake agreement with global commodities trader Glencore for the sale of its copper output.
International mining companies, including Ivanhoe Mines and Anglo American, also have copper exploration projects underway in Angola, underscoring the country’s growing role in the global energy transition supply chain.
