Luanda — A ward to evaluate and classify diamonds, belonging to the Angolan Society of Diamonds Commercialization (Sodiam), was inaugurated this Friday, in Luanda, in the De Beers building, by the Ministry of Geology and Mining, Manuel Africano.

The creation of this new local, whose functions will facilitate the improvement of working conditons of technicians, marks a turning point in the history of Sodiam, a firm which was created in 1999.

In this ward it will be evaluated diamonds in terms of quality, colour and size, which are factor that affect in the coast of this mineral. It will have over 20 examiners, national and foreigners, from independents firms that deal with Sodiam.

Sodiam has as majority shareholder Endiama E.P, with 99 percent, and the Angolan Institute of State Participation (IAPE), with one percent.

The commercialization of diamonds by Sodiam reached, during the year 2003, a figure of six million karat, a monthly average of about 500 thousand karats.

On the ocasion the Minister of Geology and Mining, Manuel Africano, underlined that the sector registered so many conquest last year, with emphasis to staff training for the exploration turned more and more to iron and manganese.

He informed that work is being done to combat clandistine prospecting, which corresponds to the orientation of the UN based in the process Kimberley.

Participated in the cerimony, presided over by the Geology Minister Manuel africano, the deputy Ministers of Geology and Mining, Makenda Ambroise and Samuel Tito, respectively, the army's Staff Chief, Agostinho Nelumba "Sanjar", and other entities.