Fresh discoveries of copper in Moxico and Cuando Cubango and lithium in Namibe province have intensified pressure on Angola’s mining regulator to modernise its licensing system, as the government seeks to position the minerals sector as a key investment destination, according to Bloomberg.

The Angolan National Agency of Mineral Resources, ANRM, is preparing to expand oversight and tighten enforcement as exploration activity rises. ANRM Chairman Jacinto Rocha said the surge in interest requires a more responsive permitting process and closer supervision of new project zones.

The momentum has prompted the government to accelerate regulatory reform. Minerals and Petroleum Minister Diamantino Azevedo urged the regulator to cut approval times, reduce bureaucratic steps and advance the rollout of a national digital registry aimed at improving transparency for investors. He did not outline the current timelines or the target reductions.

The measures reflect Angola’s plan to attract more foreign participants to its non-oil minerals sector. Companies such as Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines and Tyranna Resources are already active in the country’s exploration landscape.