Cabinda — The Geology and Mining minister, Francisco Queiroz, last Tuesday in this city expressed his concern about the artisanal exploration of gold and gravels in Cabinda Province.

The concern was manifested at a meeting with members of the Provincial Government of Cabinda, businesspeople and agents in the geo-mineral sector of the region.

Francisco Queiroz also regretted the fact that gold in this region has been explored in na artisanal way since the colonial times, which does not benefit the state nor the local population.

The official defended the need for the state to intervene to organize the exploration activity in this area, as well as the commercialization and transformation of the mentioned minerals.

Francisco Queiroz also revealed that the programme of the Executive for the mining sector outlines the diversification of minerals exploration, with the exclusion of oil.

He disclosed that the government has also approved the National Plan on Geology and Mining, through which it is possible to survey the whole country to find out the country's potential area in terms of minerals, after which the authorities will promote a strong campaign for attracting investments.

"Here in Cabinda, we'd like to have this diversification, we spoke about phosphate, we listened to the explanations about it, we learnt about the importance and impact that phosphate exploration might have not just in Cabinda but also for the national economy", he explained.

According to the minister, there aspects to be deepened and better analysed such as the role of the state in the exploration of phosphate in terms of public investments.

On her turn, the provincial governor of Cabinda, Aldina Matilde da Lomba, stated that the extraction of gravels for civil engineering, since the independence of the country, represents a fundamental activity, which has always supported the province in its reconstruction process.

On Wednesday, the delegation will visit the future premises of the phosphate exploration firm, in Cácata locality.