Petra Diamonds has revised its rough diamond pricing forecast downward for the remainder of the fiscal year due to ongoing softness across most size categories. The company now projects rough diamonds from its Cullinan mine in South Africa to sell for $120 to $130 per carat, down from the initial forecast of $125 to $135 per carat. Similarly, diamonds from the Finsch mine are expected to fetch $80 to $90 per carat, compared to the
Antwerp-based diamond supplier Choron Group has announced its acquisition of AMC Group, a De Beers sightholder, marking a rare instance of consolidation in the diamond trade. The acquisition, facilitated by diamond brokerage and consultancy firm Bonas Group, will be finalized on January 1, 2025. Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed. “This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Choron,” stated CEO Anshul Gandhi. “AMC’s legacy of excellence and market leadership complements our vision to deliver
Alrosa, the Russian diamond mining giant, reported a 4.6% drop in annual output for 2024, producing 33 million carats compared to 34.6 million in 2023. The decline aligns with planned reductions due to sanctions, weak demand, and depressed rough diamond prices, according to Aisen Nikolaev, head of the Yakutia regional government. The sanctions have also forced Alrosa to divest its stakes in Angola’s Catoca and Luele diamond mines, further impacting production capacity. Additionally, Russia’s state-owned
Azule Energy, an Angola-based joint venture, has successfully finalized a farm-in agreement for Block 2914A in Namibia’s Orange Basin. With this transaction, Azule Energy now holds a 42.5% participating interest in the block, located offshore Namibia, an area known for significant hydrocarbon discoveries since 2022. The contracting group for Block 2914A now includes Rhino Resources Namibia Ltd. (Operator, 42.5%), Azule Energy Exploration Angola (KB) Ltd. (42.5%), Namcor Exploration and Production (10%), and Korres Investments (5%).
London-listed Petra Diamonds has lowered its diamond price forecasts for 2025 and initiated a Section 189 retrenchment process affecting the group and its South African operations support functions. These measures are aimed at cutting costs and generating additional cash amid ongoing challenges in the global diamond market. To lead the restructuring efforts, the company has appointed Vivek Gadodia as Chief Restructuring Officer. “Refinancing discussions have been deferred to 2025 to allow these cash-generation initiatives to
Dangote Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to N899.50 per litre. This follows a previous price adjustment to N970 per litre on November 24. Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer for Dangote Group, highlighted that the price cut is aimed at providing relief to Nigerians during the festive season. He stated, “To alleviate transport costs during this holiday season, Dangote Refinery
Brent oil futures for delivery in February 2025 closed at $73.14 yesterday, down from $73.91 at the start of the trading session. This decline represents a 1.04% decrease, translating to a drop of approximately 77 cents. In the 2025 State Budget (OGE), effective from January 1, the government has set a reference price of $70 per barrel and aims to maintain production above 1.1 million barrels per day. According to Reuters, the oil and gas
Houston-based VAALCO Energy has signed a contract with UK-based Borr Drilling to provide a jack-up rig for its 2025/2026 drilling program off the coast of Gabon. This partnership signals a rise in offshore drilling activity across Africa and reflects the increasing trend of international collaboration in the continent’s energy sector. As the energy landscape evolves, the upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris next May will provide a vital platform for fostering such
Shell, through its Nigerian subsidiary Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, has made a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Bonga North Deepwater Development in Nigeria. This project, an extension of the active Bonga field in OML 118, is aimed at sustaining production at the Bonga facility, with first oil expected by 2030. The Bonga North project is designed to achieve a production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day. It includes the development of
Canada-headquartered Lucara Diamond Corp has named two extraordinary diamonds recovered at its Karowe mine in Botswana. The 2,488-carat diamond, found in August, has been named Motswedi, which means “a water spring” or “the flow of underground water that emerges to the surface, offering life and vitality” in the local Setswana language. The 1,094-carat diamond, discovered in September, has been named Seriti, meaning “aura” or “presence” in Setswana. “We are incredibly proud to announce the naming
