Of interest posted on the other side:
By Ketan Tanna Posted: 4/6/2005 4:33 AM
(Rapaport...April 6, 2005) The International Monetary Fund has said that Angola's diamond sector, which makes up a large chunk of the country's non-oil exports, is still largely untapped. The country is currently seeking an IMF-supported staff monitored program, the first step to a lending program.
According to a report released by the IMF, Angolas revenue from diamonds was low compared with the industry's reported production. The Angolan Ministry of Geology and Mines has reported diamond output of $788 million in 2003, up from $638 million in 2002.
The IMF said that half of Angola remains to be surveyed and that a large
part of the current Angolan diamond production was probably being smuggled abroad. Besides, the fact that there was little downstream activity, the IMF said that numerous governance issues remain to be addressed.
According to the IMF, a systematic appraisal of the diamond sector could focus particularly on the separation of roles currently being played by Endiama. Its sizeable potential conflicts of interest impede improvements being made to the transparency and openness of the sector and hence to its attractiveness to potential investors. The sector would gain in particular from clear and fair rules of entry under guarantees of a stable regulatory environment, said the IMF in its report.
The IMF said the granting of licenses and the application of tax provisions, clear commitments to fairness of treatment and transparency would reassure investors and ensure that government revenue could be maximized. More information should be published about revenue payments made by the sector and the earnings of parastatals and associated companies. There are also outstanding social issues, including prospects for garimpeiros of Angolan origin.
Angolas related fiscal income as reported by the state diamond company Endiama was $112 million in 2003 and $45 million in 2002. But the IMF said the low ratio of government revenue to production was common in other diamond-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Angolan diamond reserves fall into one of two categories: primary, or kimberlite deposits, and secondary or alluvial deposits. Angolas known stock is largely alluvial.Diamond deposits are mainly concentrated in the north-east (Lunda Provinces) with some also in the central and southern parts of the country. Over half of Angolas current production of diamonds comes from the Catoca mine in Lunda Sul.
The report added that the Angolan authorities project that output in 2005 will increase substantially, reflecting in part the recent approval of several new projects by the Council of Ministers, and the rising production in the vast Catoca mine.
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