Lucara Diamond (TSX: LUC) reported a strong performance in the second quarter of the year, with significant increases in both sales and earnings. This boost was largely driven by its revitalized supply agreement with Belgium’s HB Antwerp, which purchases and polishes rough diamonds from Lucara’s flagship Karowe mine in Botswana. The Karowe operation generated $41.3 million in revenue, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period last year. Net profit surged to $11.4 million,
Australia-headquartered Lucapa Diamond has successfully completed the sale of its 70% stake in the Mothae mine in Lesotho. The interest was sold to the local Lesotho company Lephema Executive Transport, after all conditions of the sale and purchase agreement, signed in June, were met. The divestment was carried out through a public sale process, following a strategic review of Lucapa’s asset portfolio by its newly restructured board of directors. The review concluded that Lucapa should
Botswana is renegotiating its planned purchase of a stake in Belgian gem dealer HB Antwerp to double its shareholding without additional cost, following a decline in the diamond market, Mines Minister Lefoko Moagi announced on Tuesday. As the world’s leading diamond producer by value, Botswana’s economy has been heavily impacted by decreased global demand for diamonds due to the economic slowdown. Moagi told Parliament that the downturn in the diamond market has lowered HB Antwerp’s
London-listed Gem Diamonds reported selling 56,944 carats of diamonds from its Letšeng mine in Lesotho, generating $77.9 million in revenue for the six months ended June 30. This marks a 9% increase compared to the 52,163 carats sold in the first half of 2023, which generated $71.6 million in revenue. The average price per carat in the first half of this year was $1,366, slightly lower than the $1,373 per carat recorded in the same
Botswana plans to reduce spending on new vehicles and travel for government officials and may delay some capital projects due to a slump in diamond revenues, according to Finance Minister Peggy Serame. “We have to seriously reduce the pace of spending, and we are looking at areas such as procurement of vehicles, computers, workshops, and travel that is funded by the government,” Serame told lawmakers on Monday. In the first quarter of the fiscal year
The diamond sector in Angola anticipates recovering a deficit of nearly 1.4 million carats in the second half of the year, aiming to meet the annual production target of 14.6 million carats by year-end. Miguel Vemba, Director of Endiama’s Mining Operations and Holdings Management, shared these insights during the Semiannual Diamond Production Balance Workshop held from July 7-8 in Lunda-Norte. In the first half of 2024, Angola produced approximately five million carats of diamonds, generating
Sociedade Mineira do Luele in Lunda-Norte achieved a production milestone of 1.8 million carats in the first half of this year, securing the administration’s confidence and maintaining over 1,800 jobs. The president of the company’s Board of Directors, Rómulo Mucase, shared this information in Dundo, noting that the production figures represent 94% of the projected 1.9 million carats for the period. He emphasized that this achievement is particularly impressive given the mine’s short operational history,
The National Diamond Company of Angola (Endiama) is implementing measures to stabilize the financial situation of the Lunhinga and Luminas mining companies in Lunda-Norte, both of which are facing significant challenges due to market pressures and high operating costs. Laureano Paulo, Endiama’s Executive Administrator for Mining Operations, Participation Management, Audit, and Quality Control, shared this information during a press briefing on Wednesday, following the Diamond Production Balance Workshop for the first half of the year.
London-listed Petra Diamonds has postponed its August/September tender to align with actions by major producers aimed at restricting supply in response to weaker market demand. The rough diamond parcels from Petra’s South African operations, initially slated for sale in the first tender of the 2025 financial year, will now be included in the second tender, scheduled to close in mid-October. This decision does not affect the tender schedule for diamonds from Petra’s Williamson mine in
Diamond sales in Angola have recently dropped to less than 55% of the expected average price, according to Laureano Paulo, the Executive Administrator for Mining Operations at the National Diamond Company of Angola (ENDIAMA). Speaking at a semi-annual review workshop in Dundo, Lunda-Norte province, Paulo highlighted the challenges facing the diamond sub-sector, noting that current market conditions are far from satisfactory. “Sales today are falling between 30% and 55% below the planned price. For example,
