Angola has entered the global copper market with the commissioning of its first modern mine, a landmark development for a country seeking to shift its economic base from petroleum to minerals essential for the energy transition.

The new operation, known as the Tetelo mine, lies near Maquela do Zombo in the northern province of Uíje, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The site places Angola on the outer edge of the Central African Copperbelt — a mineral-rich region that supplies much of the world’s copper for electric vehicles, batteries and renewable energy systems.

Backed by 305 million US dollars in investment, Tetelo is owned by Shining Star Icarus (SSI), a partnership between Angola’s Sociedade Mineira de Cobre de Angola and China’s Shining Star International Group. The Chinese investor contributed 250 million US dollars to the project, according to Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Mining will begin with open-pit operations before transitioning underground in 2026. The mine has an estimated lifespan of 14 years and is expected to produce 25,000 tons of copper annually in its initial phase. While modest compared with production levels in Zambia and the DRC, the project signals Angola’s re-emergence as a copper producer for the first time since independence.

Tetelo’s coastal proximity could offer Angola an edge over its landlocked neighbours. Exports will move through the country’s Atlantic ports, reducing transport times to markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas. The government views this logistical access, coupled with political stability, as a way to attract further investment into non-oil sectors.