De Beers’ Secret Discounts Fuel Discontent Amid Diamond Market Turmoil
De Beers has quietly begun selling rough diamonds at steep discounts to a select group of buyers — a rare and contentious move that is stirring tensions within an industry already grappling with sluggish demand and mounting uncertainty. In a departure from its traditional pricing model, the diamond giant has been offering discounts of 10% to 20% through confidential side deals, aimed at offloading growing inventories without making public price cuts. These covert sales, reported
Read MoreEthiopia Secures $1.75 Billion in Chinese Investments to Boost Renewable Energy and Mineral Development
In a major step toward sustainable development, Ethiopia has attracted $1.75 billion in investments from five Chinese companies, focusing on solar-cell manufacturing, energy storage, and mineral exploration. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, who emphasized the critical role these investments will play in expanding Ethiopia’s renewable energy infrastructure and tapping into its mineral resources. One of the key investors is CSI Solar Co., a Shanghai-listed company majority-owned by Canadian Solar Inc., which
Read MoreU.S. Commits $6 Billion to Boost Southern Africa’s Lobito Corridor
The United States has announced the mobilization of nearly $6 billion to support the development of the Lobito Corridor—a key transport infrastructure project linking Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia. The announcement was made on Saturday, May 10, 2025, by the U.S. State Department via its official account on the social platform X (formerly Twitter). The funding is designated for the development and construction of the Lobito Corridor, which aims to connect
Read MoreDRC to Overhaul Petroleum Code in Bid to Attract Global Investors
In an interview with Jeune Afrique, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, announced that the country will undertake a complete revision of its Petroleum Code. According to him, the reform proposal will be submitted to the Council of Ministers within the next three months before being forwarded to Parliament for approval. Explaining the need for this reform, the Minister cited the failure of the oil block tender launched on July 28,
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