Rio Tinto is working with the Government of Mongolia to ensure Oyu Tolgoi is operating in accordance with the restrictions the Mongolian authorities have put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19. The first priority of the Rio Tinto and Oyu Tolgoi teams is the health and safety of all of our employees, contractors and the wider community. Since January the movement of goods and people within Mongolia have been restricted within and across its border and this has further escalated recently as the first case of COVID-19 has occurred in the country. Work on the Underground Project continues,…
Author: Editor
Survival International – the global movement for tribal peoples – has announced the launch of its renowned annual photography competition, welcoming entries from both amateur and professional photographers worldwide. The theme for 2020’s competition is “Resilience and Pride.” Despite five centuries of genocide and oppression, tribal and indigenous peoples have survived. Many are resisting the takeover of their lands in the face of an unprecedented global assault on hard-won indigenous rights that have taken decades to secure. Their pride in their culture, identity and resistance is inspirational. The competition aims to celebrate photography’s role in raising awareness of tribal peoples,…
Diamond trading declined sharply in February due to economic uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus. Manufacturers and dealers are facing a severe liquidity crunch as sales to China and Hong Kong have stopped. Diamond prices dropped as a result of the slowdown, with the RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™) for 1-carat diamonds down 1.6% in February. RAPI for 0.30-carat goods, a popular category in the Chinese market, fell 2.1%. The downturn in China will have a broad impact on the industry. Major trade shows in Hong Kong and Basel, Switzerland, have been canceled and buyer traffic in the bourses has declined. With Chinese…
As the continents leading mining, industrial and occupational health and safety exhibition, this niche trade show is highly regarded as a valued platform for business development in Botswana. Not only was Electra Mining Botswana 2019 affirmed as the ‘best ever’ by visitors and exhibitors alike for its excellent content, successful delivery and overall quality, it also made an impression at the recent Exhibition Industry Alliance (EIA) Awards where it won a ‘Distinction in Marketing Award’, a ‘Distinction in Logistics Award’ and overall ‘Best Africa Bound Exhibition 2019 Award’. The show was also selected as one of the top ten exhibitions…
Anglo American has published its 2019 results which showed that its diamond unit, De Beers’ total revenue r went down by 24% to US$4.6 billion, with rough diamond sales falling by 26% to US$4.0 billion. The mining giants said in its preliminary results for 2019 that rough diamond production decreased by 13% to 30.8 million carats (2018: 35.3 million carats), primarily driven by a reduction in South Africa. It noted that “while trading conditions have improved somewhat since the third quarter of the year, production was lower in response to softer rough diamond demand conditions compared with 2018”. In Botswana,…
Metal Tiger plc (AIM:MTR), the London Stock Exchange AIM listed investor in natural resource opportunities, said it has made a further US$1.5m equity investment into Botswana focused explorer, Kalahari Metals Limited (“KML”). Following the Investment, Metal Tiger will be interested in approximately 62.2% of KML. As part of the Investment, Metal Tiger has been conditionally granted a 2% net smelter royalty over all of KML’s wholly owned licences, being seven licences covering, in aggregate, 6,650km2 (together, the “Royalties”). The five exploration licences owned by Triprop Holdings (Pty) Limited (in which KML has a 51% interest) do not form part of the Royalties. The Royalties will fall away should Metal Tiger…
Lucara Diamond Corp. said it has recovered an unbroken 549 carat white diamond of exceptional purity from its 100% owned Karowe Diamond Mine located in Botswana. According to the Canadian company, the 549 carat diamond was recovered from direct milling of ore sourced from the EM/PK(S) unit of the South Lobe. This follows the recent recovery of a gem quality 176 carat stone from the same ore block. The EM/PK(S) continues to produce large gem quality diamonds in line with expectations and forms an important economic driver for the potential underground mine at Karowe. The EM/PK(S) has also delivered other high…
Diamond market sentiment was positive for most of January but weakened as the outbreak of the coronavirus in China resulted in a shutdown of retail stores over the important Chinese New Year period. Prices were supported by shortages, particularly of 0.30- to 0.49-carat, D-F, IF-VVS2 goods, with inventory of fine-cut RapSpec A3+ diamonds declining. Collection-quality diamonds above 3 carats (D-E, IF-VVS2) remained weak. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™) for 1-carat diamonds slid 0.4% in January, while the 0.30-carat index rose 4.1%. Far East demand turned sluggish toward the end of January due to uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus and the ongoing protests…
Major Moves Comedy is back with yet another rib cracking lineup for their monthly event this February. First Friday Comedy which has been successfully happening every first Friday of the month in 2019 is back with a bang at Masa Square Hotel. The audience will be treated to too much hilarity and great silliness from a variety of comics as they take to the stage on Friday the 7 th of February. The fresh and funny lineup will feature both local and international comedians for the first event of the year. The stellar lineup that has resident host Onkgopotse ‘Mdala…
Tlou Energy says it has requested an initial power purchase agreement (PPA) from government of Botswana as it awaits response for the Ministry of Minerals Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security’s (MMGE) tender for the Development of a CBM-fueled power plant in the country . The company said in an operational report – quarter ending 31 December 2019 that this was in light of the fact that as CBM gas-to-power projects are new in Botswana, “the government has taken additional time to assess Tlou’s proposal including appointing qualified persons to assess the project” “To prevent further delays and allow Tlou to secure finance, the company…