Rui Lopes

Deputy General Manager Shining Star Icarus

Rui Lopes is an executive and entrepreneur with a strong track record in Angola’s mining sector, focused on the strategic development of structured, compliant and sustainable mineral resource projects aligned with national priorities and international best practices. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Shining Star Icarus, a platform dedicated to identifying, developing and advancing high-potential mining projects that support Angola’s economic diversification agenda while adhering to principles of sound governance, transparency and long-term value creation. Over a fourteen-year period, he led exploration, evaluation and development efforts that culminated in the inauguration of the Tetelo Copper Project in Uíge Province, a major milestone marking the project’s transition from development into early production. Building on this achievement, Rui Lopes adopted a structured regional strategy focused on the integrated assessment of the region’s mineral potential over an approximate two-and-a-half-year horizon, with the objective of defining new projects and establishing sustainable regional mining growth hubs. His professional approach places strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, institutional engagement and the systematic integration of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles. Social responsibility, community engagement, local content development and responsible environmental management are embedded as core components of project design and execution.
Rui Lopes is recognized for his ability to operate at the intersection of public policy, capital deployment and project execution, contributing to the strengthening of Angola’s mining ecosystem and the emergence of sustainable regional mining hubs that generate long-term national and community value.