Lucapa Diamond (ASX: LOM) has announced a phased plan to restart production at the Merlin diamond mine in Australia’s Northern Territory, which has been on hold for years. The first phase, spanning 18 months, involves excavating and dredging five existing pits. This phase will require an investment of A$15 million (US$10 million) and is projected to recover approximately 67,000 carats, generating an estimated revenue of A$42 million (US$27 million). The second phase, lasting 27 months,
Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has obtained environmental authorisation from Botswana’s Department of Environmental Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to begin drilling at two targets in the Kalahari. The drilling programme will explore two gravity anomalies spanning 12 hectares and 6 hectares, located near the company’s KX36 kimberlite discovery. These targets hold potential to enhance existing resources in the region, including the Ghaghoo mine, situated about 60 km from KX36 and currently under care
The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has expressed concerns that ongoing challenges in the mining sector, particularly in the diamond industry, may extend beyond 2024, posing a significant threat to the country’s economic growth. Kazembire Zemburuka, BoN’s Director of Strategic Communications and International Relations, highlighted declining production volumes and falling international diamond prices as critical issues affecting GDP growth throughout 2024, with projections indicating continued struggles in the coming years. “The challenges facing the diamond mining
Russia’s Alrosa, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds by volume, is considering suspending some production in 2025 and reducing its workforce as it confronts plummeting global diamond prices. The company’s CEO, Pavel Marinychev, highlighted these challenges during an interview on Thursday, citing ongoing Western sanctions and a downturn in the diamond industry. Marinychev described the global diamond market as being in a “deep crisis,” with prices declining for the second consecutive year. For Alrosa,
Lucara Diamond Corp. has announced that its 2024 revenue projections have been revised downward due to reduced sales of high-value diamonds, which typically account for up to 70% of its annual revenue, and ongoing softness in the global diamond market. In its third-quarter update, the company adjusted its full-year revenue guidance to $160 million–$180 million, down from the previous range of $220 million–$250 million. While other operational guidance remains unchanged, Lucara lowered its 2023 capital
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, has announced a robust marketing initiative aimed at reviving the demand for natural diamonds. This campaign will be launched in collaboration with Botswana, De Beers’ long-standing partner. Following his inaugural meeting with Botswana’s President Duma Gideon Boko in Gaborone, Cook expressed optimism about the renewed energy in their partnership and a shared commitment to bolstering the diamond industry. “With the diamond market facing challenges, it’s essential for us
London-listed Petra Diamonds has announced that Varda Shine will not stand for re-election at the upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) on November 13, and will retire from the board at the conclusion of the meeting. Nonexecutive director José Manuel Vargas has been appointed to succeed Shine as chairperson, effective immediately after the AGM. Vargas will also take on the role of chairperson of the investment committee. Additionally, Bernard Pryor, the senior independent director and current
TSX-V-listed Aton Resources has announced the first results from its diamond drilling program at the Abu Marawat deposit in Egypt, highlighting high-grade mineral findings, including 8.98 g/t gold, 185 g/t silver, 0.43% copper, and 6.12% zinc over a 3.9-meter interval. To date, the company has drilled 35 diamond drill holes at Abu Marawat, totaling 3,381 meters. All holes have been drilled horizontally or at shallow angles to target previously untested, near-surface mineralization in a challenging
Endiama, Angola’s National Diamond Company, has completed the compensation process for more than 2,000 former employees of closed mining companies in Lunda Norte, a process that had been in progress for over 12 years. This update was shared by Domingos Margarida, Executive Director of Mining Operations, Administration, and Human Resources at Endiama, during a meeting with representatives of former employees from Sociedade Mineira do Lucapa (SML) and the Luarica, Luxinge, Facauma, and Yetwene diamond projects.
Botswana’s newly elected President, Duma Boko, announced on Friday his intent to finalize negotiations for a new diamond sales agreement with De Beers as soon as possible. De Beers, a subsidiary of Anglo American, had previously agreed to a deal that would gradually increase Botswana’s share of diamonds from the Debswana joint venture to 50% over the next decade. Currently, Debswana, co-owned by Botswana and De Beers, supplies 75% of its diamond output to the
