The diamond rich Botswana recorded a trade surplus in May as the country realised a rise in exportation of the girl’s best friend. The International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) Monthly Digest which presents statistics on Botswana’s total imports and exports of goods during May 2017 showed that there was a trade surplus of P1.1 billion during the month. “The trade surplus was influenced by the high value of diamond exports while imports of the same commodity recorded a low value,” said Statistics Botswana. According to Stats Botswana, total imports were valued at P4, 247.3 million showing a decrease of 17.9%…
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Tlou Energy Limited, the AIM and ASX listed company natural gas explorer said it has been granted a mining licence for the Lesedi CBM project by Botswana’s Department of Mines in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security. The Mining Licence for the Lesedi CBM Project was the first application of its kind to be lodged in Botswana. Tlou’s Managing Director Tony Gilby said the awarding of the mining licence by the Ministry is a major milestone for the company, further de-risks the project, and is an important pre-requisite to developing the first commercial gas-to-power project…
Gem Diamonds—the London listed miner said it has received an offer for its mothballed Ghaghoo diamond mine located in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) of Botswana. In a statement accompanying its half-year results for the six months ended 30 June 2017, the company revealed it was still studying the offer but could not state whether it was solicited or not. “At Ghaghoo, the mine was successfully placed on care and maintenance during the Period which will result in further cost optimisation during the remainder of the year. Shareholders are advised that an offer to acquire 100% of the Ghaghoo…
The results for the Harrismith 400, the penultimate round of the SA Cross Country Championship for Motorcycles and Quads that took place on 28 July, and the updated championship standings show that although a few titles have been secured, many championship titles will only be decided at the sixth and final event of the 2017 season. With five of the six rounds now something of the past, the defending motorcycle champion, Ross Branch (Brother Leader Tread KTM) has secured the 2017 overall title and the pressure will be on the rest to fight for the remaining podium positions and…
MOD Resources says drilling has resumed at the T3 Copper Project (T3) following approval of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The approval is subject to several conditions which are all manageable. The EMP will enable an unlimited number of RC and diamond drill holes to be drilled up to December 2018 within a 48km2 farm block surrounding the T3 project. T3 forms part of the joint venture (JV) between MOD (70%) and AIM listed Metal Tiger Plc (30%) and includes an extensive licence holding in the central and western parts of the Kalahari…
Polished diamond trading was seasonally slow in July as the US wholesale market closed for summer vacation. Polished prices softened as midstream inventory levels increased due to the slowdown in demand and increased supply. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™) for 1-carat, GIA-graded, RapSpec A3+ diamonds fell 0.7% during July, and was down 3.2% since the beginning of the year. The Rapaport Monthly Report – August 2017 notes that manufacturing profit margins have come under pressure since rough prices increased an estimated 3% on average in the first half of the year, while polished prices softened. Excess rough inventory has shifted…
Qorokwe, a new Wilderness Safaris Classic Camp situated in the private, wildlife-rich 26 180 hectare (64 692 acre) Qorokwe Concession in Botswana’s south-eastern Okavango Delta adjacent to Moremi Game Reserve, is set to open for guests in December 2017. Owned by the Maun-based Calitz family, Qorokwe (meaning “the place where the buffalo broke through the bush into the water”) is a spectacular and highly productive mix of fertile Okavango habitats. Qorokwe’s diverse landscape includes scattered acacia and mopane woodlands, open seasonal and permanent floodplains and picturesque riverine islands along the Gomoti and Santantadibe Channels. Guests can explore…
De Beers, the Anglo American diamond unit, said its sales rose in the sixth cycle of the year as the annual Hindu event was held earlier than usual leading to clients buying stones earmarked for the next cycle. The company said its rough diamond sales (Global Sightholder Sales and Auction Sales) for the sixth sales cycle of 2017 went up 5.7% from $541 million recorded in Cycle 5 of 2017 to provisional $572 million. De Beers chief executive officer, Bruce Cleaver said the sixth sales cycle of the year maintained the trend of consistently good demand for De Beers rough…
Wilderness Safaris has launched the Wilderness Moments Photographic Competition, to encourage all guests, staff and partners who have travelled with the company in the last 34 years to “Take their best shot at a purposeful journey”. Entries open on 10 September and close on 15 October, with the winners announced on 15 November 2017. As part of Wilderness Safaris’ #PurposeIsTheNewLuxury campaign, the main aim of the competition is to entrench the company’s core reason for being – to conserve and restore Africa’s wilderness and wildlife by creating life-changing journeys and inspire positive action. The five categories of the competition therefore focus on Wilderness…
A conference taking place in Durban from 9-11 October is set to explore South Africa’s aspirations to build an energy hub for gas cooperation with international partners along the value chain. The International Gas Cooperation Summit (IGCS) evolves from the ‘South Africa: Gas Options’ meetings held in Cape Town in 2015 & 2016. This meeting will bring together principal government and public sector, gas developers, institutional investors and technology providers to explore how natural gas can play a greater role in South Africa’s energy mix and support the industrial and economic development goals of the country. EnergyNet’s Anna Gorzkowska commented, “When…