Tosyali Angola Iron Steel is stepping up its investment in science to reconcile mining operations with environmental conservation, the company’s vice-president, Henriques Kiaku Simão, said on Thursday in Lubango, Huíla province.
Simão made the remarks at the opening of a workshop titled ‘Bats, Environmental Conservation and Impact Assessment’, held at the Higher Institute of Educational Sciences (ISCED-Huíla). The event brought together national and international researchers, students, environmental consultants and representatives from various economic sectors.
In his address, Simão argued that Angola’s industrialisation must be accompanied by responsible environmental management grounded in scientific knowledge and respect for ecosystems.
He said Tosyali Angola’s mission is to contribute to the country’s economic growth through its mining and steel project and other structuring investments, without neglecting the conservation of natural resources — a principle that underpinned the company’s decision to sponsor the workshop as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.
Simão explained that the workshop reflects Tosyali’s commitment to fostering scientific debate on issues directly related to biodiversity management and environmental impact assessment.
He highlighted that bats, though often undervalued, play a decisive role in ecosystem balance, contributing to the control of agricultural pests, seed dispersal, plant pollination and the monitoring of environmental health.
Understanding the distribution of these species and the threats they face in the miombo ecosystems and escarpments of Huíla, he added, is a tool for improving environmental impact studies and licensing processes.
Simão noted that the initiative forms part of Tosyali Angola’s social and environmental responsibility agenda, aligned with the principles of ISO 26000, environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, and Angolan environmental legislation.
He stressed that for the company, sustainability goes beyond compliance with legal requirements, representing a permanent commitment to protecting forests, water resources, fauna, flora and the communities covered by its projects.
Simão also argued that cooperation between universities, companies and public institutions is a decisive factor in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions for national development.
In his view, events such as this strengthen the link between academia and the productive sector, ensuring that environmental decisions are backed by scientific evidence and international best practice.
The workshop, held on Thursday at ISCED-Huíla, aims to promote the sharing of knowledge on the ecological importance of bats and to reinforce the integration of science into environmental impact assessments and the adoption of more sustainable mining practices in Angola.
Tosyali Angola, headquartered in Luanda, conducts the exploration, processing and commercialisation of iron ore in the Cassinga region, in the municipality of Jamba Mineira in Huíla province.
Source: ANGOP / Original article: https://www.angop.ao/noticias/ambiente/tosyali-reforca-aposta-na-ciencia-para-mineracao-sustentavel/
