Gem Diamonds Limited (LSE: GEMD) has announced the recovery of an exceptional quality 910 carat, D colour Type IIa diamond from the Letšeng mine in Lesotho, the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world. The diamond, the largest recovered from Letšeng, is believed to be the fifth largest gem quality diamond ever recovered. Clifford Elphick, Gem Diamonds’ Chief Executive Officer said the company acquired Letšeng in 2006, the mine has produced some of the world’s most remarkable diamonds, including the 603 carat Lesotho Promise, however, this exceptional top quality diamond is the largest to be mined to date and highlights the…
Author: Editor
Walkabout Resources, through its wholly owned Namibian entity Aardvark Minerals (Proprietary) Limited (ARV), has executed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a local Namibian company for a staged earn-in to an Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL5691) in the Warmbad area of southern Namibia. The license is adjacent to, and directly to the south of the 100% owned Walkabout licence EPL6308 and will form part of the highly prospective Eureka Lithium Project. The addition of the license to the project area further expands ARV’s commanding footprint in the highly prospective Orange River Pegmatite Belt (ORPB) in the Karasregion of southern Namibia…
The role of off-grid and mini-grid in rural electrification in Africa, will be a key discussion session during the 10th Africa Energy Indaba Conference on 20-21st February 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, supporting the immense growth potential of solar. Solar is making a major impact in Africa; the amount of power from solar grew by more than 50%, and has officially increased energy output globally at a faster rate than any other fuel. Solar is currently leading the race in renewables and for the first time solar PV additions surpassed all other fuels including coal. The International Energy Agency (IEA) released their latest report relating…
The Index of Electricity Generation (IEG) stood at 212.6 during the third quarter of 2017, Statistics Botswana said in its electricity generation and distribution stats brief, for third quarter 2017. According to Stats Botswana, the year-on-year comparison of the Index of Electricity Generation reflects an increase of 35.2% from 157.3 recorded during the corresponding quarter of the previous year. It added that when compared to the second quarter of 2017, the Index of Electricity Generation increased by 32.4%, from 160.6 during the second quarter to 212.6 during the period under review. The year-on-year comparison of generated electricity shows an increase…
The Botswana gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in the last part of 2017, Statistics Botswana has revealed. The latest numbers shows the estimated GDP at current prices for the third quarter of 2017 printed at P43, 067.9 million compared to P43, 146.6 million registered in the second quarter of 2017. However, the estimated GDP at constant 2006 prices for the third quarter of 2017 was P22, 689.2 million compared to P22, 884.4 million recorded in the second quarter of 2017. On the other hand, the domestic economy increased by 1.2% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to an increase…
The directors and management of Strata-X Energy Ltd. has announced that the company has pre-empted a third party offer to buy out Magnum Power and Gas’ (MPE) 25% interest in the 273,000 acre, 1.4Tcf Prospective Resource, Serowe Coal Seam Gas Project. Strata-X elected to pre-empt the offer as its gives the company flexibility in developing the resources outside of a restrictive farmin agreement and grants the company greater optionality to use the value in the Serowe CSG tenement in lieu of shareholder dilution. The Serowe CSG project is located in the Kalahari Basin CSG fairway, and offsets tenements of ASX…
AIM listed Firestone Diamonds says it has agreed to extend the option period granted to Amulet Diamond Corporation to purchase Firestone’s BK11 asset until 31 December 2018. Amulet, is a Canadian special purpose vehicle (spv) formed for the purpose of the disposal by a group of private investors led by Gareth Penny and Diacore Diamond Group (PTY) Limited, a multinational diamond company with diversified interests in the diamond industry. “Amulet has made steady progress towards completing the bulk sampling plant but due to unforeseen equipment delivery delays, Amulet requested an extension to the option period which has been granted by Firestone,”…
The Canadian-based non-profit organisation IMPACT (formerly Partnership Africa Canada) has announced it is leaving the conflict diamond certification scheme known as the Kimberley Process. The announcement came at the end of the Kimberley Process Plenary held in Brisbane from December 9-14, during which members were to discuss and adopt needed reforms. The scheme goes through a reform cycle every five years. “Consumers are being sold something that is not real,” Joanne Lebert, IMPACT’s Executive Director told gathered Kimberley Process members. “The Kimberley Process—and its Certificate—has lost its legitimacy. The internal controls that governments conform to do not provide the evidence…
The African Energy Indaba (AEI) celebrates its 10th edition on 20-21 February, 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa. This flagship annual event on the African business calendar correlates with the growth in African energy on the continent, as the AEI is well-renowned for its focus in exploring and expanding on solutions for the energy future of Africa. The AEI has been instrumental in facilitating exhibits, discussion, debate and networking amoung African governments and companies for the last ten years, and who remain actively involved in all areas relating to showcasing solutions involving major energy projects, rural energy solutions, urbanisation and energy…
Gem Diamonds—the London listed miner has said discussions to sell its Ghaghoo mine in Botswana have bore no fruit and talks will not proceed with unnamed suitor. In an update to shareholders, the company said it has resumed discussions with other potential buyers. In its Half Year 2017 results, announced on August 17, 2017, shareholders were notified that an offer to acquire 100% of the Ghaghoo asset had been received and was being considered by the Board. “Discussions have not resulted in agreement between parties and this offer has been withdrawn,” the company headed by Clifford Elphick revealed. “The company…