Gem Diamonds Lays Off 240 Workers at Letseng Mine Amid Falling Prices and U.S. Tariff Pressures Gem Diamonds is laying off 240 workers—about one-fifth of its workforce—at the world-famous Letseng mine, in a move that underscores the mounting strain on Lesotho’s diamond-dependent economy. The company reported a half-year loss of $11.7 million, a sharp reversal from a $2.1 million profit a year earlier, after revenue plunged 42% due to weak global demand and sliding diamond
Botswana’s Diamond Crisis Deepens: Healthcare Strains, Job Losses, and Record Budget Deficit Threaten Stability Across Botswana, signs of economic distress are multiplying. Patients queue for hours outside government clinics, construction firms reliant on state contracts are laying off workers, and university students are threatening boycotts after promised allowance increases failed to materialize. The downturn marks a sharp reversal for a country once hailed as a model of prosperity in Africa. Fueled by the world’s richest
HB Antwerp Recovers Rare 37-Carat Pink Diamond from Karowe Mine, Showcasing Exceptional Color and Craftsmanship Antwerp, Belgium – September 2, 2025 – HB Antwerp proudly announces the arrival of a 37.42-carat pink Type IIa diamond recovered from Lucara’s Karowe Mine in Botswana. This exceptionally rare stone exhibits an intensity of color rarely seen in the market today. Over the past five years, HB Antwerp has established itself as a leading expert in handling large, complex
Angola’s Future: High-Tech Diamonds, Digital Oilfields, and Renewable Power Angola is reshaping its economic identity through a high-tech transformation of its diamond and oil & gas industries. Long reliant on raw exports, the country is now investing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and clean energy to create sustainable, transparent, and efficient resource sectors. The Saurimo Diamond Development Hub in Lunda Sul province is a centerpiece of Angola’s diamond renaissance. The complex integrates polishing factories, a hybrid
US Delays Deadline for Importing Pre-Sanction Russian Diamonds to September 2026 The United States government has extended the deadline for importing certain “grandfathered” Russian diamonds by one year, postponing the original September 1, 2025 cutoff to September 1, 2026. Following sanctions on Russian-origin diamonds in March 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 104. This license allowed U.S. importers to bring in select nonindustrial loose diamonds
Alrosa Introduces AI System to Revolutionize Diamond Exploration in Challenging Terrains Alrosa has introduced a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) system aimed at accelerating the discovery of diamond deposits in complex geological environments. The new technology is designed to enhance the accuracy of identifying promising exploration sites while significantly reducing search time and costs. The company estimates that the system could save hundreds of millions of rubles per project. Diamond exploration has slowed in recent decades,
Dubai Police Arrest Suspects and Recover $25 Million Pink Diamond in High-Stakes Heist Dubai Police successfully intercepted an attempted theft of a 21.25-carat pink diamond valued at $25 million, responding swiftly after the victim reported the crime. Acting on a tip, authorities arrested three suspects within eight hours of the jeweler notifying them and recovered the diamond before it could be smuggled out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a post on Dubai
Angola Diamond Industry Poised for Growth with Focus on Sustainable Exploration The diamond subsector in Angola holds promising prospects, despite ongoing challenges, said Laureano Afraid Paulo, Executive Administrator of ENDIAMA-EP, during a press briefing in Luanda. Speaking on the final day of Expo Catoca, where he participated in a panel on “The Future of the Diamond Subsector: Reserves, Innovation, and Added Value,” Laureano Paulo emphasized that rising production levels bring increased responsibility to ensure diamond
Angola’s National Diamond Company Highlights Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Expo Catoca The National Diamond Company of Angola is participating in the inaugural edition of Expo Catoca, presenting an exhibition that highlights its diverse areas of operation, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability and social responsibility. The event, which concludes on Thursday, July 28, has impressed participants and coincides with the 30th anniversary of Sociedade Mineira de Catoca. During the opening ceremony, Diamantino Azevedo,
Angola Overtakes Botswana as World’s Top Diamond Producer for First Time in Two Decades For the first time in 20 years, Botswana has lost its crown as the world’s leading diamond producer by value, with Angola edging ahead in 2024, according to data from the Kimberley Process (KP). Botswana’s diamond output fell sharply to 18.13 million carats worth US$1.36 billion in 2024, down 27.8% in volume and 58.6% in value from the previous year. By
