Angola to ships its first iron ore shipment to China from the Cutato mine. Approximately 60,000mt iron ore will be exported to China, according to an update by the country’s Ministry of Mineral Resources reported in local media.
Extraction at the mine started in February 2021. A ship with 62,000mt capacity is being loaded at the Port of Saco-mar, Namibe. The exporter Companhia Siderúrgica do Cuchi (CSC) is expected to raise $6mn from its first consignment.
Around 95,000mt iron ore has been extracted from the mine, according to the mines minister. The project also involves supply to a steel mill which is under construction in Vila de Cuchi. The mill will process the ore into pig iron. The company plans to export 100pc of its production.
Initial estimates suggest economically extractable deposits of around 109mn mt from the mine in a period of 35 to 50 years.
Companhia Siderúrgica do Cuchi is Angola’s first foundry set up by the government, a local company and a Brazilian partner.