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150 million dollars, 400 square kilometers! Africa’s first large-scale commercial niobium mine is set to become operational soon – who is making moves in this space? Original content by North Nonferrous Network. April 24, 2026, 18:09, Beijing. Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving global supply landscape for critical minerals, the Niobonga niobium project located in Quilengues, Huila Province, southwestern Angola, is transitioning from the exploration phase to the development phase. Led by Chinese-funded enterprises and with a total investment of around 150 million US dollars (with the actual amount invested so far approaching 200 million US dollars), this mine is regarded by the industry as a model project for Angola’s mining diversification strategy; it is also expected to become the first niobium mining project on the African continent to enter commercial operation. I. The Niobonga niobium mine in the 400-square-kilometer mining area is located in the Bunga Mountains and Chivira Mountain Range region, with a total area of about 400 square kilometers. The project was established as a joint venture between the Chinese-owned company Niobonga–Comércio Geral and Angolan iron ore producer Ferrangol E.P. It has been granted a 22-year mining concession, which can be extended up to 40 years under the renewal terms. In terms of resources, the proven reserves of niobium ore amount to approximately 19 million tons, containing about 40,000 tons of niobium metal. Initial exploration work was carried out only in 10% of the mining area, and laboratory analysis results confirmed that the grade there was high. In terms of production capacity planning, once the mine is fully operational, the annual output is expected to reach 8,000 tons of ferroniobium and 150,000 tons of sulfuric acid, which constitutes a relatively large scale on a global basis. In addition, this mining area also contains resources such as iron, aluminum, and apatite, providing opportunities for the expansion of subsequent industrial chains. II. Construction Progress: In terms of project construction, the main technical equipment has been installed, and the labor team has also been assembled. Public information shows that approximately 650 people are employed at the project site, and once it is fully operational, it will create around 500 direct jobs, while also generating thousands of indirect jobs through sectors such as transportation, services, and trade. Community relocation and compensation are also important aspects in the early stages of a project. According to the local municipal authorities, more than 400 families have been resettled, with each family receiving compensation of 2 million kwanzas. The relocation process is now in its final stages, and broad consensus has been reached with the local community. From a long-term perspective, the project will also include the construction of a supporting mineral processing plant and related construction and installation works; the total scale of the project is approximately 1.02 billion yuan (including the construction and installation of the mine and processing plant), thereby creating a complete industrial chain that spans from mining to primary processing. III. Strategic Value Niobium is an important strategic metal; due to its excellent properties at extremely high temperatures, it is widely used in fields such as aerospace, superconducting materials, high-temperature alloys, and the production of high-strength steel. Currently, the global niobium supply landscape is highly concentrated: Brazil controls approximately 98% of the known recoverable reserves (about 16.1 million tons), accounting for roughly 93% of the total production capacity ； Canada and Australia rank second and third respectively. As one of the world’s largest importers of niobium, China relies on imports for over 95% of its needs. The commissioning of the Niobonga project is expected to mark a \"breakthrough from zero\" in the commercial production of niobium on the African continent, turning it into a new hub in the global niobium industry. Industry analysts believe that this project will not only bring new growth opportunities to the global market, but also help alleviate the current highly monopolistic supply landscape. It holds positive significance for ensuring the security of strategic mineral resource supplies for major manufacturing countries such as China. From a market trend perspective, the supply and demand balance for niobium ore globally is continuing to tighten. Projections suggest that high-purity niobium and tantalum metals may face a structural shortage in the coming years. Currently, the international market price of niobium is roughly between $40 and $50 per kilogram. The global market size for niobium has already exceeded $3.4 billion, and it is expected to reach $6.5 billion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of around 6.8%. IV. Angola’s mining sector transformation and China-Angola cooperation. For a long time, Angola’s economy has been heavily dependent on oil exports; oil revenues once accounted for **over 90% of fiscal income. In the face of oil price fluctuations and the global trend toward energy transition, the Angolan government has made mining diversification a **strategy; the Niobonga niobium project is a key component of this strategy. In recent years, the authorities in Angola responsible for mineral resources and oil have repeatedly expressed their welcome to Chinese companies investing in mining projects, promising to provide institutional support. Cooperation between China and Angola in the field of geology and minerals is also continuing, including inter-institutional geological cooperation as well as practical collaboration in the area of energy and mineral resources. The Niobonga project is a prime example of the deep cooperation between China and Angola in the field of critical minerals. Wilson Ganga, CEO of Niobonga, said at a mining conference that the project clearly demonstrates Angola’s ambitions to **position itself as a rising force in the global competition for critical minerals, with an influence that extends beyond its national borders. V. The impacts of the Niobonga project on employment, infrastructure, and economic hubs are not limited to the mining industry itself. Local municipal officials noted that the mine has the potential to turn Kilunguis into an important economic hub for the Huila province and even southern Angola. The direct and indirect job opportunities created by the project will spur the development of local industries such as services, trade, and transportation. In terms of corporate social responsibility, Niobonga pledges to support the development of infrastructure such as education, healthcare, water supply, and roads in communities surrounding its mining areas. The comprehensive advancement of the project also helps to promote the upgrading and renovation of local infrastructure such as logistics, power, and water management systems. The Niobonga niobium mining project is one of the examples of capacity cooperation between China and Africa, and it is also a landmark project for Angola’s transition from a country based on oil to one with diversified mining industries. As work on equipment installation, community settlement, and supporting facilities progresses, this project is moving from planning to reality. For Angola, this is not only the launch of mines but also the starting point for economic structural transformation ； For the global market, this could also be an important signal of changes in the niobium supply landscape.