De Beers’ prices fell last year as a prolonged oversupply in the midstream and economic challenges weighed on demand. The company’s rough-price index, which reflects like-for-like values, dropped 6% for the 12-month period, parent company Anglo American reported last week. Sales volume slipped 19% to 27.4 million carats, with the average selling price sliding 25% to $147 per carat. While the company has not published its full-year revenue, rough sales decreased 36% to $3.63 billion,
Botswana has designated BWP 890 million ($65 million) from its new fiscal 2024-2025 budget for the purchase of a 24% stake in Belgian manufacturer HB Antwerp. The deal, which it first announced in March, calls for the African country to supply rough from state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) to HB Botswana for five years. The partnership would operate in a similar fashion to HB’s previous supply deal with Lucara Diamond Corp, enabling Botswana to retain
Energy supermajor TotalEnergies and offshore drilling contractor Vantage Drilling have signed a binding agreement to form a new joint venture (JV). Under the agreement, TotalEnergies will acquire the Tungsten Explorer drillship from Vantage Drilling. To the tune of $199 million, TotalEnergies will acquire a 75% majority stake in the JV, with Vantage Drilling owning the remaining 25%. “Through this innovative partnership, TotalEnergies will be able to hedge deep offshore drilling costs: the JV will provide
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seeking ‘modern investors’ to tap into the country’s mining sector, which boasts over $460 trillion worth of untapped mineral deposits. Miguel Kashal Katemb, Director General of the DRC’s Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP), said the country wants to collaborate with responsible investors, particularly those focused on equity funds and exchange-traded funds, to drive infrastructure development within the mining sector. “We have many big investors
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Luanda in January 2024 cemented Washington D.C.’s commitment towards energy development and economic prosperity in Angola. In a meeting with Angola’s President João Lourenço and Foreign Minister Tete António, Blinken discussed bilateral relations and partnerships in the areas of infrastructure, energy, economic engagement and trade. The U.S. signed a seven-side MoU in October 2023 with the African Development Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation, the EU and the
Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil, and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, urged mining sector companies to invest in Angola during the 30th edition of Mining INDABA-2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. Azevedo extended an invitation to business leaders to explore Angola’s numerous opportunities, robust infrastructure, and comprehensive geological data available for investors. The minister’s call was part of a forum titled “Angola: Mining Potential and Business Opportunities for Investors,” which attracted over 500 participants, as reported by
The Diamond Subsector has contributed approximately $235.8 million to social responsibility projects from 2017 to the first half of 2023, revealed Sidónio Borges, Head of the Information Technologies and Marketing Department at Fundação Brilhante, during a workshop on social responsibility actions in Luanda. Of this total, $112.8 million has been allocated to completed projects, while $123.04 million is earmarked for ongoing initiatives. Leading contributors to these efforts include Sociedade Mineira de Catoca, Sodiam, Endiama, and
The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, asked, last week for greater dynamism from the new executive administrator of Sonangol’s Board of Directors to achieve Sonangol’s objectives in increasing prospecting and research for more resources. By delegation of powers from the President of the Republic when inaugurating the new executive administrator of the Board of Directors of Sonangol, Belarmino Chitangueleca, appointed on Wednesday, Diamantino Azevedo requested greater commitment to the execution of
Angola’s exit from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will allow it to maintain the objective of increasing production and surpass the average value of 1.2 million barrels per day. This view is expressed in a note attached to the study presented by Deloitte on this week. Deloitte’s partner for the Energy, Resources and Industry Sector, Frederico Martins Correia, cited in the same document, reveals that in relation to the Angolan market, “the year
Angola’s oil and gas industry anticipates a substantial investment influx of over $71 billion in the next five years, announced Paulino Jerónimo, President of the Board of Directors of the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), during a press conference in Luanda. Jerónimo highlighted a significant surge in investment from approximately $5.6 billion to $12 billion between 2022 and 2023 alone, projecting robust growth for the sector. Over the past five years, the industry
