London-listed Gem Diamonds Limited said its care and maintenance costs at their mothballed Botswana mine have spiked as an earlier earthquake that hit parts of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve caused flooding. According to the Group’s operational and sales performance for the Period from 1 January 2017 to 30 June 2017, Ghaghoo mine’s care and maintenance status was successfully achieved ahead of plan on 31 March 2017. “During the Period, an earthquake with an epicentre 25km from the mine occurred. There was superficial damage to the surface infrastructure, however the earthquake damaged the seal of the underground water fissure, leading to an influx of…
Author: Editor
De Beers’ rough diamond production increased by 36% to 8.7 million carats in line with the higher production forecast for 2017, reflecting stable trading conditions as well as the contribution from the ramp-up of Gahcho Kué in Canada. Debswana (Botswana) production increased by 14% to 5.9 million carats. Orapa’s production increased by 44% driven by the ramp-up of Plant 1 which was previously on partial care and maintenance in response to trading conditions in late 2015. This was marginally offset by Jwaneng where production decreased by 3%. Namdeb Holdings (Namibia) production increased by 32% to 0.4 million carats as a…
Signet Jewelers Limited, the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewellery, has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Virginia “Gina” C. Drosos, who has served as an independent director of the Company’s Board since 2012, as the new Chief Executive Officer of Signet, effective August 1, 2017. Drosos has over 29 years of executive leadership experience in the beauty and consumer goods industries. She previously served as President & CEO of Assurex Health and as a Group President of Global Beauty Care at The Procter & Gamble Company. Mark Light, who has served as CEO of Signet since 2014,…
BelServest has partnered with Servest Camp Management Services, a highly experienced provider of camp management services for mining, construction and energy projects in southern Africa. The company said it was proud to have been awarded a three year contract by Debswana for their Jwaneng Diamond Mine Camp. The company specialises in remote site projects providing a camp or village which really has to be a home away from home. The underlining philosophy is that every person who lives in these villages should be at home there. This guides the creation of comfortable and homely environments to which people are happy…
Botswana Diamonds (BOD) the AIM and BSE listed explorer has announced that prospecting work on the Ontevreden licence held by Vutomi has identified a group 2 kimberlite pipe. Initial work indicates a size of 1.5 to 2.5 hectares in area containing high interest garnets. Detailed drilling of the area will follow to confirm the size and whether it contains commercial diamonds. Ontevreden is close to the Petra Diamonds Helam diamond mine in North West South Africa some 400 km from Frischgewaagt (FGT) in a separate kimberlite cluster. Helam has a grade of 85 carats per hundred tonne (cpht). John Teeling,…
A 2.6 billion-year-old rock has made a journey of almost 14,000 kilometres from Australia’s Pilbara region to London and will go on display at a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum (NHM), opened by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. The colourfully layered 2.5 tonne rock, a piece of banded iron formation (BIF), was chosen by the NHM as part of a wider exhibition to celebrate the wonder and beauty of the natural world, from the origins of the universe, to the story of evolution and diversity in the world today. BIFs were formed more than three billion years ago…
Wilderness Safaris said has announced the opening of Bisate Lodge, which is situated next to the renowned Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Comprising just six spacious forest villas, Bisate offers a luxurious base from which to enjoy an extraordinary gorilla conservation experience and life-changing journey to this beautiful region. Situated within the amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, the 42-hectare Bisate site is incomparable in terms of its natural splendour, with sweeping views towards the Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno volcanoes. It is close enough to Kinigi (the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters) to be convenient for guests’ morning gorilla treks, but far…
Tlou Energy Limited, the AIM and ASX listed company said it has appointed Linah Mohohlo to the Board as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect. Mohohlo, aged 65, is the former Governor of the Bank of Botswana, a position she held from 1999 to 2016. She joined the Bank of Botswana in 1976, where she served in several capacities prior to being appointed Governor, including Board Secretary, Deputy Director of Research, Director of the Financial Market Department and Deputy Governor. “We are delighted that Linah has joined the board of Tlou Energy Limited. Linah has exceptional experience and knowledge across…
As part of the Shared Growth strategy, Barclays Bank of Botswana is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of Botswana’s arts and culture. For the third consecutive year, the Bank is sponsoring the Kuru Dance Festival. On Monday, 10 July 2017, Barclays Bank of Botswana Managing Director, Reinette van der Merwe, officially handed over a P300,000 contribution to the Kuru Development Trust, in the presence of Kuru Trust members and the media. The Kuru Dance Festival is taking place from 4-5 August 2017 with the main event taking place Saturday, 4 August 2017, at Dqae Qare Lodge in D’Kar,…
Polished diamond prices softened in June after the JCK Las Vegas show demonstrated a cautious and changing US market.Jewellers are reducing their inventory requirements as they adjust to changing consumer habits. There is a strong emphasis on bespoke services and personalized products. Consumers are also shifting to lower price points, impacting the volume and type of diamonds that jewelers need in their stores. The market is selective as the trade focuses on immediate needs, with very little planning of future supply. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™) for 1-carat, GIA-graded, RapSpec A3+ diamonds declined 0.8% in June and was down 2.5%…