Lubango — The ornamental rocks exploration industry in Angola's southern Huila province has earned the country Usd 29.3 million over the last three years, Angop learned Wednesday in Lubango.

During the period mentioned, according to a report on the evolution of the sector's 2004/2007 period indicators that reached Angop, 135,412 cubic metres of black granite has been exported.

The source adds that 11,055 cubic metres of rocks were mined in 2004, against 43,408 Cubic metres of 2005, and 15,899 of the following year.

The year 2007 reached a production of 46,449 cubic metres, which earned Usd 10 million in that period.

Nine companies are currently operating in the sub-sector of ornamental rocks, mining granite and marble of black, pink and grey tonalities in the districts of Chibia, Quipungo and Gambos.

The market for Huila's ornamental rocks has been Europe, especially Spain, Portugal and Italy.

The exploration of ornamental rocks in Huila started in 1994 through the company, Metarocha, and had exported more than two million cubic metres.