Angola is planning a total of 16 new mining projects for next year, the country’s Minister of Geology and Mining, Francisco Queiroz, said.

Mr Queiroz stated they would create more than 3,500 new jobs, Jornal de Angola newspaper reported.

He added the projects would also help shift the country’s economy from dependence on oil exports. “The mining sector is being invited to participate in the growth of the country’s gross domestic product,” Mr Queiroz said.

Among the 16 new mining projects, five are related to diamond mining and four involve gold mining, according to Jornal de Angola.