De Beers says the provisional value of rough diamond sales for the third sales cycle of 2024 stood at $445 million during its third circle of 2024. According to the mining company, the provisional rough diamond sales figure quoted for Cycle 3 represents the expected sales value for the period and remains subject to adjustment based on final completed sales. De Beers Group CEO, Al Cook said in a statement that many diamond businesses are continuing to take a cautious approach to purchases amidst the uncertain economic landscape and the slow pace of growth in China. “However, we saw a…
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First National Bank of Botswana says it has extended financing to two energy projects in the country as part of sustainable finance. The bank said Rand Merchant Botswana (RMB), its Corporate and Investment division, announced Green Building Loan for Barloworld Equipment Botswana, at the Botswana Stock Exchange Limited Bell Ringing Ceremony, signaling a significant milestone in sustainable finance. “RMB has facilitated and financed a 5-year Green Building Loan for Barloworld Equipment Botswana, enabling the company to achieve a 51% increase in Energy Efficiency, a 29% reduction in Water Usage, and a 31% decrease in Embodied Energy in Materials,” FNB said…
Okavango Wilderness Safaris (OWS) celebrates the successful inauguration of its Local Supplier Expo recently, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to fostering greater inclusion and development of citizen-owned businesses within Botswana’s tourism and hospitality value chain. Held at the Wilderness Maun offices, the Expo welcomed approximately 120 vendors from diverse sectors, showcasing OWS’ dedication to supporting local enterprises and driving economic growth within the community, whilst also serving as a testament to the incredible depth of Botswana talent across the value chain. The Local Supplier Expo was officially launched by Kabelo Ebineng, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of…
Lucara Diamond Corp. says it has entered into a new diamond sales agreement with HB Group out of Antwerp, Belgium (HB), in respect of all qualifying diamonds produced in excess of 10.8 carats in size from its 100% owned Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. The company said in an update that under the terms of the 10-year deal with HB, the purchase price paid for Lucara’s +10.8 carat rough diamonds shall be based on the mutual agreement of the estimated polished outcome, determined through state-of-the-art scanning and planning technology, together with external benchmarks and more than a decade of Lucara’s special stone sales…
The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) and Risk Insights (RI) have unveil their strategic partnership which is meticulously designed to push the boundaries of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards in Botswana. Risk Insights, recognised for its pioneering solutions for ESG in Africa, is set to infuse its expertise into the Botswana market, through the BSE, to elevate the country’s commitment to sustainable business practices. At the core of this collaboration lies the integration of Risk Insights’ cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence-powered platforms – the ESG GPS and A-Cubed. The ESG GPS platform empowers BSE-listed companies with a holistic suite of ESG ratings,…
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for November 2023 air travel performance indicating that air travel demand topped 99% of 2019 levels. Total traffic in November 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 29.7% compared to November 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 99.1% of November 2019 levels. International traffic rose 26.4% versus November 2022. The Asia-Pacific region continued to report the strongest year-over-year results (+63.8%) with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year. November 2023 international RPKs reached 94.5% of November 2019 levels. Domestic trafficfor November 2023 was up 34.8% compared to November…
The Board of Debswana, the 50:50 diamond mining joint venture between De Beers Group and the Botswana government says it has approved investment for a key development phase of the Jwaneng underground project, paving the way for the world’s most valuable diamond mine to transition from open pit to underground operations. The ~$1 billion (BWP 13.6 billion) investment in this phase of works, known as the Exploration Access Development Phase, is for establishing a drilling platform to facilitate comprehensive sampling of the kimberlite pipes, delivering the early access decline for the underground mine and developing essential infrastructure to support forthcoming…
hrough their commitment to continually champion technology and improve Botswana’s ICT infrastructure, Orange Botswana officially launched its world class Tier III Certified Data Center at the Botswana Digital Innovation Hub and Technology Park on the 28th of November 2023. The official opening of the Data Centre was led by the Minister of Communications, Knowledge, and Technology Honourable Thulagano Merafe Segokgo. An investment of more than One Hundred and Fifty Million Pula has been injected into the development and equipping of the Orange Botswana Data Centre. Through the investment the state-the-art data centre is expected to enhance network connectivity nationally and internationally therefore improving network experience for…
Orange Botswana is privileged to serve as one of the pioneering forces in Botswana’s telecommunications sector, today commemorating the 25th anniversary of the brand, a quarter-century of innovation, connectivity, and positive impact in the lives of Batswana. This was the sentiment and indeed commitment shared as Orange Botswana welcomed key stakeholders for a glittering 25th anniversary gala dinner on the 28th of November 2023 in Gaborone. In attendance were captains of industry from across Botswana, commemorating the occasion with valued clients, partners, executives, and the Board of Orange Botswana. Also, in attendance to mark the momentous occasion was Orange Middle East & Africa Deputy CEO, Mr. Brelotte Ba, as well as the guest of…
In an era of digital transformation, cashless transactions have become increasingly prevalent, offering numerous advantages over traditional cash payments. Many establishments across Gaborone have already made the move to go cash-free. This shift to cashless transactions and increased card usage has transformed the way we manage our finances, providing numerous benefits that not only improve our daily lives but also help shape the economy’s future. Carrying cash increases the risk of loss or theft; if your cash is lost or stolen, it is highly unlikely that you would recover it. In contrast, card transactions offer a higher level of security. If your card is lost…