Mining 2026

ANGOLA Law and Practice Contributed by: João Afonso Fialho and Marizeth Vicente, VdA

ing on both the environment and local communities, emphasising the importance of legal and sustainable mining practices. 2.9 Good and Bad Examples of Community Relations/Consultation Impacting Mining Projects Examples of the positive impact of mineral activities on local communities are social projects implemented by the holders of mineral rights in the villages around the mines (eg, building of infrastructure and roads, and water and electricity supply structures, to the benefit of the local communities) and the increase in jobs available to local communities. Examples of negative impacts are those linked with reportedly unsatisfactory working conditions, human rights violations or damage to the environment. 3. Climate Change, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in Mining 3.1 Climate Change Effects Climate change is on the agenda of the Angolan gov - ernment but has not yet (directly) impacted the mining industry. 3.2 Climate Change Legislation and Proposals Related to Mining Angola has not yet passed specific climate change legislation related to mining. However, there is growing concern surrounding climate change, which has led to the ratification of several international climate change conventions – namely, the United Nations Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) in 2000 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2007, reaffirming Angola’s commitment to the implementation of measures and programmes to stabilise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In May 2000, Angola ratified the Montreal Protocol to the Vienna Convention. Angola is also a signatory to: • the Paris Agreement; • the United Nations Convention on Combating Drought and Desertification (UNCCD);

• the Convention on the Conservation of Wild Migra - tory Species (CMS); • the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); and • the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Angola is also party to the Law of the Sea Conven - tion. Most of the conventions continue to be imple - mented by Angola, through the Ministry of Environ - ment (MINAMB), within the scope of the commitments assumed at international level to contribute to the pro - tection of life on planet Earth. Although Angola does not yet have specific legislation on climate change concerning mining, there are envi - ronmental legislative provisions that may indirectly contribute to climate change mitigation. For example, Articles 12 and 19 of Law 8/24 (Law on Combating Illegal Mining Activities) include some environmental provisions, and Article 5 of Presidential Decree 51/24 (Regulations on the Exercise of Mineral, Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in Conservation Areas) imposes various obligations on operators. These obligations include: • the construction of infrastructure; • responsible use of water resources; • financial contributions to conservation pro - grammes; • biodiversity protection; and • the conducting of environmental audits. Although these do not specifically mention climate change, some of the obligations (such as environ - mental mitigation, ecosystem protection and fire pre - vention) may indirectly contribute to efforts against climate change. The Angolan National Commission on Climate Change and Biodiversity (CNACB) was recently established with a specific mandate for climate change. The CNACB is composed of several entities (including the ministries of petroleum, transport, higher education, science and technology, health, and agriculture and fisheries), under the co-ordination of the ministerial department respon - sible for the environment, and was in charge of prepar - ing Angola’s participation in COP28.

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