At Cape Town’s annual Mining Indaba, the launch of an Africa Mining Vision (AMV) Compact between African governments and mining companies has been announced. Frank Dixon Mugyenyi, Senior Trade Advisor of the Department of Trade and Industry in the Africa Union Commission (AUC) delivered the keynote speech on behalf of Fatima Acyl at a specially hosted dinner hosted on Tuesday evening. “This Compact is a concrete step forward in aligning key interests around the implementation of Africa Mining Vision with those of the business community,” read the Commissioner’s speech. “The goal of the Compact is to strengthen trust and mutual understanding…
Author: Editor
Local companies and government officials will learn a thing or two from a high powered delegation from businesses in German SolarPhotovoltaic industry who will be visiting Botswana this month. Through the “renewables – Made in Germany” initiative, eight German companies in the solar photovoltaic and energy storage sector will be visiting Gaborone from the 18th- 19th February 2016. “Not only will they engage with public authorities to forge partnerships, but they will also have the chance to present their products and services to a number of local companies and participants,” said Jens Hauser, Manager SADC, Sustainable Energy Competence Centre.…
Lucara Diamond Corp said Thembani Moitlhobogi has won the contest to name the 1,111 carat gem quality diamond recovered in at its Karowe mine in Botswana in November, 2015. The diamond has been named “Lesedi La Rona” which means Our Light. This symbolises the pride and history of the people of Botswana, according to company CEO, William Lamb. Moitlhobogi will receive a prize of P25,000 following a contest that was open to all Botswana citizens including the company’s Batswana employees. “The outpouring of pride and patriotism shown by all the participants in the contest was incredible, Lamb said. ”The diamond…
With the falling global crude oil prices, Botswana petroleum products users are continuing to get the positive impact as government passes the lower cost benefits to them. The country’s Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources said the retail pump prices for petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin were slashed in response to declining crude oil prices. According to the Ministry, retail pump prices for all petrol grades (unleaded petrol 93 and 95) be decreased by 15 thebe per litre; retail pump prices for all diesel grades (diesel 500 ppm and 50 ppm) be decreased by 45 thebe per litre; retail…
Lucara Diamond Corp. has announced the dates for its first Exceptional Stone Tender (“EST”) of 2016. The company said viewing will take place in Gaborone from April 4 through April 13, 2016 with the tender closing at 1.00 p.m. CAT. The tender will feature ten diamonds with a combined weight of 1,525 carats including a magnificent 296 carat Type IIa diamond. The tender does not include any of the three previously announced exceptional diamonds recovered in November 2015. “We are very pleased to be able to offer this collection of diamonds this early in the year,” William Lamb, Lucara’s President…
Lucara Diamond Corp says the contest is underway for the official naming of the extraordinary 1,100+ carat Type IIa diamond recovered in November of last year from the company’s Karowe mine in Botswana. The company said the contest has attracted over 11,000 entries to date. “This beautiful, gem quality diamond is the largest diamond ever recovered in Botswana and the second largest ever in the world,” Lucara said. “The contest, open only to citizens of Botswana, has attracted over 11,000 entries to date. The winning name will be announced in simultaneous press conferences held in Gaborone and the Indaba Conference…
AviaDev Africa, a unique platform bringing together airlines, airports, hotel and hospitality investors for the first time, is being launched this year in Rwanda. The inaugural forum on aviation route planning and development will run in parallel with the prestigious Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), providing government and industry with a valuable opportunity to take a strategic approach to the expansion of travel across the continent. Leading airline, airport and hotel executives, alongside government representatives, will be able to explore the crucial link between aviation and hotel investment and discuss potential new airline routes in exclusive one-to-one meetings. The conference…
Survival International, the global movement for tribal peoples’ rights, has announced its third worldwide photography competition. The competition aims to celebrate photography as a powerful medium for raising awareness of tribal peoples, their unique ways of life and the threats to their existence. Both amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to enter. Survival said photographs can be submitted under categories; Guardians: images showing tribal peoples as guardians of the natural world; Community: portraits of relationships between individuals, families or tribes and Survival: images showing tribal peoples’ extraordinarily diverse ways of life. The judging panel includes Survival’s Director Stephen Corry, Survival Italy Coordinator Francesca Casella, The Little…
Global diversified mining group, Anglo American plc said its diamond production decreased by 16% to 7.1 million carats in the last quarter of 2015, which was a reflection of a decision to reduce production in response to trading conditions. The company—the parent company to De Bees– said on its Production Report for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2015 that rough price index was on average 8% lower in 2015 than in 2014, with the index falling by 15% over the course of the year. De Beers was mostly hit in Botswana where it gets most of its diamonds as…
One of the leading mining global mining giants, Rio Tinto said it has reached a binding agreement for the sale of its Mount Pleasant thermal coal assets to MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd for US$224 million plus royalties1. The company noted that with the recently announced binding agreement for the sale of Rio Tinto’s interest in the neighbouring Bengalla coal Joint Venture, this amounts to US$830 million of agreed sales. “These agreements for over US$800 million in asset sales deliver significant value for our shareholders, with the potential for future royalties from Mount Pleasant,” Rio Tinto Copper & Coal chief…