Luanda: Esperan§a dos Santos, the chairperson of the Angolan Association of Women in Geosciences, advocated on Wednesday in Luanda for the strengthening of public policies that promote the inclusion of women in the extractive industry. This would increase the participation rate of women in the sector.

According to Angola Press News Agency, the concern stems from the fact that only 14% of extractive industry professionals are women. Speaking at the 4th edition of the Women in the Extractive Industry Forum, the association leader also indicated the need to continue paying attention to the transformative potential of women in the mining sector to build a modern, competitive, and sustainable industry.

She emphasized that, in addition to investing in human capital, it is necessary to invest in modern technologies and infrastructure. Dos Santos stated that 21st-century mining will be more technological, intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive. "It is precisely in this convergence of technology, innovation, and diversity that women can play an increasingly decisive role," she said, adding that in many countries, including Angola, women remain underrepresented in technical and leadership positions in the mining sector.

Dos Santos highlighted that technological transformation is redefining skills, modernizing management models, and opening up new opportunities for women to participate more actively and qualify in the extractive sector.

The fourth edition of the Women in the Extractive Industry Forum is an initiative of the Extractive Industry corporate event production agency, Mining Eventos, and aims to integrate the experience of manufacturers and technology with the needs of local operators. It also aims to align the strategic vision of national operators, such as Endiama Mining, Catoca, and Luele, with global technological standards, as well as to identify critical digital skills for training Angolan female professionals.

With the motto "Innovation and Inclusion in the 4.0 Era: The Future of Mining is Technological and Female," the event featured decision-makers, technicians, and final-year Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students.