Zimbabwe ranks as the seventh-biggest diamond producer in the world with an annual output of over 4 million carats worth 420 million U.S. dollars, this was revealed in the latest production statistics released by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).

In terms of diamond output, the Southern African country was only behind Botswana, Russia, Angola, Canada, South Africa and Namibia, according to the KPCS, a regulator of trade and production of diamonds globally.

Zimbabwe is aiming to produce 7 million carats of diamonds this year, and the sector is targeting an annual revenue of 1 billion U.S. dollars.

The Zimbabwean government expects the mining sector to reach a 12 billion U.S. dollar market value by the end of this year.

Anglo American has announced another large fall in diamond revenues from the latest sales cycle at subsidiary De Beers, saying that buyers were being “prudent” because of the macro environment.

The company said its seventh sales cycle of 2023, between 14 and 29 August, generated just US$370 million in sales.

That’s down from US$411 million and US$456 million in cycle six and five, respectively, and a big drop from US$638 million in the seventh cycle of 2022.

Al Cook, the chief executive of De Beers, said: “With the prevailing economic environment leading to softer end client demand for diamond jewellery in key consumer markets, and the traditionally lower levels of midstream trading during the summer period, Sightholders [authorized bulk purchasers of rough diamonds] continued to take a prudent approach to their purchasing during the seventh sales cycle of the year.”

De Beers operates diamond mines across Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa, and sells 90% of its stones by value through Sightholder sales. The sales events, known as Sights, are held 10 times a year.

The other 10% of its diamonds are sold via auctions.

Lucara Diamond Corp. announces the intention to appoint William Lamb as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a director, replacing Ms. Eira Thomas.

Eira Thomas co-founded Lucara in 2007, with partners Lukas Lundin and Catherine McLeod-Seltzer. Ms. Thomas took on the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 2018. Ms. Thomas has been integral to the development and success of the Company’s 100% owned Karowe Diamond Mine, which is the world’s leading source of large exceptional quality Type IIa diamonds.

The Board would like to acknowledge the special contributions that Eira has made over her many years of involvement with Lucara in her capacity as a director, and specifically over the last five years as CEO. As CEO, Ms. Thomas introduced an innovative diamond sales strategy for Lucara’s production of rough stones greater than 10.8+ carats though Lucara’s agreement with HB Antwerp, generating regular revenues on superior pricing terms. Ms. Thomas also led the commercialization of Clara, a secure, digital diamond sales platform. More recently under Ms. Thomas’s leadership, the Karowe Mine achieved peak operational performance and she and her team arranged for a senior secured project financing debt package of $220 million enabling the underground expansion to advance.

William Lamb has over 25 years’ experience in mining project development and operations. William served as Chief Executive Officer of Lucara Diamond Corp. from May 2011 to February 2018. He also has prior diamond and other mining company expertise gained through projects, process engineering and operations with De Beers, as well as serving on several public mining company boards. During his original tenure at Lucara, William was responsible for the highly successful construction of the original Karowe mine and its facilities. William’s prior experience is ideally suited to advancing the Company’s key underground project to a successful completion.

Paul Conibear, Chair of Lucara’s board of directors stated, “On behalf of Lucara’s Board of Directors, I would like to thank Eira for her leadership and the integral role she has played in the success of the Karowe Diamond Mine. Eira’s commitment, excellent team leadership skills, focus on operational excellence and her ability to see how innovation and technology can be harnessed to strengthen our Company have been invaluable. Lucara has also benefited from the deep ties Eira has made with the communities in which we operate and our stakeholders through her hard work and foresight.”

Adam Lundin stated, “We are very grateful for Eira’s tremendous contribution to Lucara since its founding. She has laid the groundwork for further value add at the Karowe Diamond Mine, for the benefit of all Lucara’s stakeholders. We look forward to working with Eira on exploring options to maximize the value of Clara for all stakeholders. We are very pleased to have William rejoin us and successfully lead the company once again.”

The priority at the top of the list of every diamond producer is to maximize diamond recovery, whilst optimizing costs as well as acting on the growing pressure to address corporate social responsibility and environmental issues.

TOMRA’s holistic approach and cutting-edge technologies have proven to deliver consistently exceptional recovery rates, significant cost savings, operational advantages and a smaller environmental footprint. In particular, its complete diamond recovery solution, unique on the market, is attracting fast-growing interest of diamond producers of all sizes – from large-scale operations to small mines – from different parts of the world. TOMRA is receiving increasing enquiries from existing and new customers, looking to update their plant or complete the process with TOMRA’s revolutionary Final Recovery sorter.

Live demonstrations reveal the full potential of TOMRA’s Final Recovery sorter

A key element of TOMRA’s full solution is the COM XRT 300 /FR Final Recovery sorter, which the company has been demonstrating at its Demo Rooms in Wedel, Germany and Johannesburg, South Africa. These demonstration facilities are proving particularly valuable for diamond operators, who have the opportunity to experience first-hand the unique benefits of this revolutionary and easy-to-operate compact final recovery sorter. They can watch accurate demonstrations of typical final recovery, sort house and single particle sorting functions, across various size fractions with either kimberlite or alluvial ore, and experience sorter outputs at various feed rates exhibiting actual on-mine conditions. The TOMRA operator can show them how their unique operational requirements would be addressed on a live easy-to-use HMI (Human Machine Interface) panel.

“The biggest advantage of these demonstrations is that the customer experiences the extremely low yield – that is the ultra-high diamond-by-weight concentrate – delivered by the sorter,” explains Corné de Jager, Diamond Segment Manager TOMRA Mining. “This in turn highlights the significant downstream benefits with regards to hand sorting and security. What’s even more impressive for them to see is the exceptionally low amount of gangue ejected with the diamond concentrate, even for the difficult-to-sort ultra-fine size fractions.”

TOMRA has also demonstrated the COM XRT 300 /FR sorter at the Electra Mining Show 2022, performing simulated operational production runs for the entire duration of the exhibition. The sorter was fed with fine alluvial ore, which had diamond dust tracers and diamonds added. “This realistic and live operation drew a never-ending stream on show goers,” says Corné de Jager. “The live demo show has resulted in numerous enquiries and sales. In fact, a ‘hands-on’ CEO of a large diamond operation had lengthy discussions with the TOMRA team on site. In front of the crowd, he asked us to process 1 kg of alluvial gravel and to include 150 diamond tracers and 10 diamonds. The sorter delivered a perfect result, ejecting all 160 added tracers and diamonds, with minimal ore particles. The crowd cheered, while the CEO shook hands with our TOMRA design specialist.”

TOMRA’s unique complete partnered diamond recovery solution

TOMRA is the only manufacturer to offer a complete Partnered Diamond Recovery Ecosystem – a full recovery service from 2mm to 100mm with a flowsheet covering the entire process – from high-capacity Concentration (+4-100mm) to Final Recovery and Sort House applications (+2-32mm).  It includes a detailed analysis of the diamond producer’s requirements and operational needs, the collaborative development of an X-Ray Transmission (XRT) technology-based flowsheet, all the way to installation. After commissioning, TOMRA remains at the side of the diamond producer, to provide on-site and advanced remote support with specialized services and training. The complete solution can also include secure cloud computing benefits of the optional web-based TOMRA Insight service, that offers online and near real time performance metrics of all the sorters.

TOMRA is today the world’s leading supplier of X-Ray Transmission (XRT) diamond recovery technology, having recovered some of the largest and rarest gemstones in history. The extremely precise detection and ejection of even the smaller particle sizes, proprietary image processing and large capacity of TOMRA’s XRT sorters deliver exceptionally high concentration factors and recovery rates in high tonnage diamond concentration applications. In fact, its promise to customers is simple: 100% detection in the specified size range, irrespective of luminescence profile or coating, and a guaranteed diamond recovery greater than 98%. This consistent performance has allowed diamond mines to revolutionize the entire process plant design.

In Final Recovery, the remarkable performance of TOMRA’s XRT proprietary ultra-high resolution sensor and precise ejection technology has revolutionized this stage of the process to efficiently deliver recovery rates greater than 99% along with an ultra-high diamond-by-weight concentrate with yields as low as 0.05%. This in turn has created a unique proposition for the significant reduction of traditional hand sorting, with higher capacities than existing single particle sorters.

SODIAM E.P., the Angolan National Diamond Trading Company, is a state-owned organization in charge of controlling and supervising the purchase, sale, and export / import of diamonds in Angola; under the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas has appointed ‘The New Jeweller International Group’ as an advisor for investment promotion from diamond companies focused on expanding business in Angola.

Since the Angolan government announced its decision to open for Foreign Direct Investments [FDI] to set up cutting & polishing factories in the SAURIMO region, many leading companies from the sector have shown interest and have earmarked investments. Some have opened factories in the Saurimo region and have initiated operations in terms of cutting, polishing and procurement of rough diamonds.

The initiative by the Angolan government to open FDI for factories has been applauded as this decision puts Angola as a “Preferred Investment Destination” in the global map. Angola is rich in not only oil and petroleum resources, but diamonds, precious metals and energy transition mineral resources. The recent address by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas H.E. Dr. Diamantino Pedro Azevedo during the recently organized Mining INDABA in South Africa clearly defined the strength of Angola as one of the topmost natural resource providers and would make Angola as the most important investment destinations in the world.

SODIAM E.P., whilst a state-owned company in charge of controlling and supervising the purchase, sale and export/import of Diamonds in Angola has also been entrusted to take forward the implementation of the New Diamond Trading Policy by allowing a more competitive view and meeting the expectations of the State. The “Saurimo Diamond Hub” is an initiative by the government of Angola to invite investors from the diamond sector to put up cutting and polishing factories that would not only increase demand for the rough diamonds mined in Angola, but also support the government mandate of localization and employment generation. The Saurimo Diamond Hub has an area of more than 35,000 square meters with an infrastructure that comprises of Banks, dormitories, professional and technical training institute, food court, convention center, training institute for cutting and polishing, beneficiation factories and plots of land for the implementation of more beneficiation factories. State of the art cutting, polishing and procurement factories will make the Saurimo Diamond Hub an envious trading zone anywhere in the world.

SODIAM E.P has partnered with The New Jeweller International Group to advise investors from the international diamond community on the benefits of investing to set up factories in the Saurimo Diamond Hub.  The New Jeweller International Group is a private equity investment company with major interests in Diamond and Jewellery industry advisory services among other sectors. With offices and representations in Dubai, Singapore, Mumbai and other economies; The New Jeweller International Group exists to build a better Industry and help create long-term value for clients, people and society. All information, research reports and analysis published by the group for its clients and government entities has only helped build trust in the Diamond and Jewellery Industry.

According to Dr. Eugenio Bravo da Rosa, Chairman – SODIAM E.P, ‘’We have chosen to partner with The New Jeweller International Group to advice all our potential Diamond Industry colleagues on the advantages and benefits that they would derive by opening up factories in the Saurimo Diamond Hub. The New Jeweller International Group enjoys an excellent equity among the Diamond sector and our first phase interactions with the group through conferences, webinars and media activities has prompted us and ensured us that they would not only be our partner in growth but also an excellent and efficient response-oriented advisors to the Saurimo Diamond Hub. We wish them all the very best for a long-term association with SODIAM E.P”.

SODIAM plans to build nineteen new factories within the SAURIMO DIAMOND HUB between 2023 – 2025 and to achieve this target the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum & Gas has recently introduced new incentives to promote local beneficiation that includes:

• Introduction of a differentiated tax regime for the 20% cut exclusively sold to beneficiation manufacturers.
• 0.253% tax for the goods that are processed locally, out of the 20% run-of-mine cut exclusively sold to beneficiation manufacturers.
• 3.553% tax for the goods that are subsequently exported, out of the 20% run-of-mine cut exclusively sold to beneficiation manufacturers.
• 8.553% tax on the remaining 80% of the run-of-mine production available for export to international customers. Local manufacturers will be subject to the above-mentioned 0.253% and 3.553% tax rates when processing some of the remaining 80% of the run-of-mine production in Angola.

De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa (DBSSSA) officially unveiled its new rough diamond sorting, valuation and sales facility in Johannesburg today at an event attended by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, Gauteng MEC of Economic Development, Tasneem Motara, and De Beers Group CEO, Al Cook.

De Beers Group announced in January 2023, that it was relocating its Sightholder Sales activities in South Africa from Kimberley, where it has been operating since 1974, to Johannesburg following a review of its sorting activities in South Africa. The relocation supports the government’s strategy to consolidate the country’s mineral beneficiation sector into one area at the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone, close to the OR Tambo International Airport.

The relocation also supports the company’s evolving footprint in the country over the past decade, with the world class Venetia mine in the Limpopo Province being its only active mine.  With no mining activities in the Northern Cape since 2015, De Beers is consolidating its remaining operations to be in close proximity to provide efficiency in operating costs, greater effectiveness and to contribute towards the country’s national beneficiation agenda.

A total of 87 employees were successfully relocated from Kimberley to the new 6747 m² facility in Sky Park Industrial in Johannesburg, which has two floors comprising Sightholder offices, hand and machine sorting areas, a training academy and a diamond cleaning plant.

Honourable Gwede Mantashe, Minister of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, said: “Whilst we congratulate De Beers for the grand opening of the Sightholder Sales facility, we also welcome the R35 billion investment in the unground mining in Limpopo. We encourage you to continue investing in South African mining, particularly in the Northern Cape and other Provinces. Doing so will help us change the economic architecture which stands on three legs Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.”

DBSSSA is part of the Global Sightholder Sales network that sells rough diamonds for beneficiation purposes in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Canada.  It is also responsible for the distribution of De Beers rough diamonds in South Africa and seeks to support the industry at large in maintaining a sustainable diamond manufacturing industry through its beneficiation strategy.

The beneficiation strategy is aligned to the South Africa government’s local beneficiation objectives and engages in a range of activities that aim to support and further the country’s economic goals.  These include skills development, enterprise development, industry development, as well as marketing and promotion of South Africa abroad.

In South Africa, DBSSSA has nine Sightholders that it sells rough diamonds to 10 times a year. The consistent and predictable supply of rough diamonds to South African Sightholders supports their ability to invest in local cutting and polishing factories and together, they have employed 620 cutters and polishers since 2020.

Last year, De Beers Group and several key industry players – including the SA Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator, the SA Diamond Manufacturers Association, the SA Diamond Dealers Club and the State Diamond Trader – partnered to launch a Small Beneficiator Customers (SBC) pilot programme with seven identified cutting and polishing businesses receiving assistance.

The objective of this programme is to broaden supply and access of rough diamonds to small South African owned beneficiation companies. To further assist emerging businesses with access to affordable rough diamond parcels, De Beers Group is offering SBCs parcels of diamonds consisting of an aggregated mix of diamonds from its mines in Namibia, Botswana, Canada and South Africa.

The SBC programme follows the successful launch of the Enterprise Development Project for Diamond Beneficiators in 2016, which saw one of its alumni companies, Molefi Letsiki Diamonds, becoming the first majority black owned South African Sightholder for the De Beers Group. Nungu Diamond, a company that was also part of the first cohort, entered into a partnership with Pluczenik, a De Beers Group Sightholder, to establish Pluczenik SA, headed by Nungu Diamond’s owner Kealeboga Pule.

Now in its second cohort, the Enterprise Development Project aims to facilitate the growth and transformation of diamond beneficiation in South Africa.  The focus is on delivering this through a holistic approach that seeks to optimise interventions in all aspects of the diamond pipeline from rough diamond purchasing, state of the art manufacturing of diamonds and jewellery, to marketing and distribution.

To date, 10 diamond cutting and polishing companies have benefitted from the ground-breaking Enterprise Development Project, with 60% of these companies being women owned and 80% black owned. Each participating company received an allocation of rough diamonds from De Beers Group, in line with their market requirements and capacity. In addition, the project facilitated local and international market access and sponsored their participation at international trade shows, including the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair and JCK Las Vegas.

Moses Madondo, Managing Director of De Beers Group Managed Operations, said: “South Africa is a significant source of rough diamonds and aside from helping to upskill the industry, it is important for us as diamond producers to assist small beneficiation customers with access to affordable parcels of rough diamonds. We are excited to now be located in the beneficiation hub where we can continue working with our partners to further support the local beneficiation industry. South Africa is sharply focused on being internationally competitive, and with government’s support as envisaged through the GIDZ, the country is well placed to support the growth of its beneficiation sector.”