Tlou Energy Limited said it has commenced gas production testing from the Selemo 1 pilot well, which is located at its 100% owned Lesedi CBM Project in Botswana. According to the ASX/ AIM listed company, the aim of the gas testing programme is to provide evidence of a sustainable gas production rate achievable from the field and develop the first wells flowing commercial rates of gas in Botswana. Tlou’s Acting Managing Director, Gabaake Gabaake said the initial gas flows are very encouraging and mark an important step towards the goal to demonstrate sustained gas production from Lesedi. He said they…
Author: Editor
Pangolin Diamonds Corp said it has recovered two more diamonds from its wholly-owned Malatswae Diamond Project for a total of ten to date. The company revealed that nine of the diamonds are white in colour. Diamond MSC-DG-137 is a white cube with small black inclusions and dimensions of roughly 0.7 x 0.7 x 0.7mm. Diamond MSC-DG-342 is an irregular shape with remnant octahedral surfaces with dimensions of roughly 1.0 x 0.8 x 0.5mm. The diamonds were recovered from an unscreened 100 litre sample collected within a 10 square metre area of a GPS controlled sample site. This material was dry screened in the…
Gigawatt Mozambique has announced a $200-million investment into Mozambique’s power sector, alongside several global stakeholders including Standard Bank and the World Bank, amongst many others. The investment will assist in harnessing Mozambique’s natural-gas resources, which will further benefit many of Mozambique’s neighbours in the southern Africa region. This – along with several other projects in the SADC region – will be presented and discussed at EnergyNet’s upcoming Southern Africa Energy and Infrastructure Summit (SAEIS) taking place in Maputo, Mozambique 4-6th May 2016. The summit will celebrate regional co-operation, and promote energy and infrastructure projects that require both private- and public-sector support in order to be realised. EnergyNet’s Regional Director for…
Magnum Gas & Power Limited said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sky Blue Capital Proprietary Limited (Sky Blue) with the two parties agreeing to form a new company (Newco) in Botswana seeking to develop Social Housing projects with their own independent power supply (integrated Gas and Solar micro-grid). According to Magnum, such projects would help Botswana develop affordable, clean and sustainable communities with reliable power supplies, whilst also generating an offtake for Magnum’s gas, integrating solar power generation and utilising Sky Blue’s expertise in Net Zero Energy Developments. The Newco aims to develop Botswana’s first off…
Botswana’s largest short term insurer, Botswana Insurance Company (BIC) said its total claims payouts spiked 41.7% in 2015 as compared the prior period. The company said on its latest report that the highest claim payouts were within the motor segment , comprising of commercial and personal motor vehicle, (vehicle accidents, hijacking, theft) was reported at a 35% increase from 2014.BIC said in 2014, there were 9 hijacked vehicles insured with BIC, however the numbers positively went down to 6 in 2015. Non motor claims, which comprises several lines & segments of insurance, such as fire and allied perils, business interruption,…
De Beers, a member of the Anglo American group said it is continuing the momentum as it recorded a rise in the value of rough diamond sales sight-on-sight. The leading rough diamond company revealed that provisional sales in the Cycle 2 of 2016 stood at $610m, which was better than the actual sales of $545m in Cycle 1 of the year. The rise in sales was attributed to retailer restocking following the end of year holiday season which in turn is supporting demand for polished diamonds. “Rough diamond demand continues to show signs of improvement as excess inventory has continued to…
Botswana Diamonds (BOD) said the forthcoming first half 2016 exploration programme for Botswana will commence in March. The company noted that the programme will be managed by Alrosa, the Russian diamond producer, who is our 50 per cent partner in the venture. The highlights includes the drilling of one core hole to 300m depth and one or two large diameter holes, each 300 metres deep on kimberlite pipe AK21 on PL 260 in the Orapa area. There will also be Drilling two or three follow-up holes, 80 metres each on PL 210 in the Orapa area. According to BOD there…
Rapaport Auctions, the leading recycler of diamonds in the world, has opened its melee auction with over 125,000cts of diamonds. The auction consists of recycled and finely assorted premium quality diamond parcels in all shapes, qualities and sizes sourced from retailers, pawnshops and refineries from around the world. This is Rapaport Auctions’ largest auction to date. Viewing is taking place in Rapaport’s New York office from February 22-26 and at Asia World-Expo in Hong Kong from March 1-4. The wide variety of merchandise offered and the opportunity for buyers to purchase such large quantities of diamonds has generated overwhelmingly positive buyer…
The De Beers Group of Companies said its International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR) has launched its grading service in the Far East, Middle East, India and Europe. Following an initial pilot testing of the service in the Far East, IIDGR will now also provide a grading service from each of its laboratories in Belgium, India and the UK. The service, which employs De Beers’ proprietary grading technology to provide outstanding accuracy and consistency, is suitable for all sizes, colours, shapes and qualities. However, the service will be available only for natural, untreated diamonds. IIDGR will be presenting…
De Beers Namibia Holdings will make N$10 million (US$650,000) available over five years to support the programme run through UNAM’s southern campus at Keetmanshoop, with UNAM providing administrative support. The programme aims to complement the Government’s efforts to support Namibian children in marginalised communities to fulfill their academic potential. At least 50 per cent of the beneficiaries will be girls. For 2016, 87 students, 60 of them girls, have been selected for support. They will receive help with costs related to tuition fees, books and accommodation. Philippe Mellier, Chief Executive of De Beers Group, said: “De Beers has a proud…