Lucara Diamond Corp.’s revenue fell in the first quarter due to a decrease in the quantity of large stones sold under its offtake agreement with HB Antwerp. Sales dropped 4% year-on-year to $41.1 million, the company reported last week. Lucara sold $36.2 million worth of goods through tenders and its Clara online platform, receiving an additional $4.9 million in top-up payments from HB Antwerp. This agreement involves the purchase of all diamonds over 10.8 carats
De Beers has significantly reduced the prices of its Lightbox lab-grown diamonds, responding to recent developments in the sector. The standard line, featuring I to J color diamonds, will now retail for $500 per carat, down from $800 per carat—a 37.5% reduction, according to a statement from the De Beers subsidiary on Friday. Diamonds with D to F color, VS clarity, and an excellent cut will be priced at $900 per carat, a 40% decrease
The European Union plans to exclude “grandfathered” goods from its sanctions on Russian diamonds, according to Reuters. Rough diamonds imported from Russia before January 1, 2024, and polished diamonds imported before March 1 — or September 1 for stones under 0.50 carats — will be exempt from the ban, the news service reported last week. The report cited proposals for a 14th package of EU sanctions on the Kremlin over its war in Ukraine, which
Exxon Mobil’s long-pending asset sale to Seplat Energy may finally conclude within two weeks, ending a two-year delay since the initial agreement. The $1.28 billion sale in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil exporter, has been awaiting regulatory approval since 2022. Gbenga Komolafe, chief of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), informed Reuters that the companies have been invited to a meeting on Friday. “Subject to the outcome of the meeting, consent… could be given in
De Beers reduced prices for smaller rough diamonds at this week’s sight, though manufacturers say the adjustments aren’t enough to ease their profitability challenges. The miner cut the price of 3-grainer (0.75-carat) and smaller goods by 4% to 6%, market insiders told Rapaport News Tuesday. In 4- to 6-grainers (1 to 1.5 carats), the price decline was around 4%, they estimated. Prices of 5- to 10-carat rough increased slightly, though this partly reflected modifications to the assortments,
Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) – a subsidiary of energy major Shell – and Nigeria’s Oyo State Government have signed a partnership to establish a gas supply and distribution network aimed at providing gas to industrial and commercial consumers within the state. The project comprises the construction of 15km of pipelines with a capacity to deliver 60 million standard cubic feet per day, with first gas expected by Q4, 2025. SNG will construct and manage the gas distribution
Zambia is allocating $6 million towards boosting mineral production and enhancing sustainability, productivity and safety in mining operations through the establishment of the Mining Technology (MinTech) hub. The MinTech hub will serve as an innovation and collaboration centre for the mining industry, offering training and capacity-building programs to promote the adoption of new technologies and best practices. “We are the major producers of a variety of minerals, but specifically copper,” said Zambia’s Minister of Science
Offshore services company ADES Holding has secured a drilling contract from Egypt’s Suez Oil Company. Under the $42.93 million contract, a jack-up unit will be used for drill works at the Gulf of Suez, with the 21-month term expected to commence in the coming weeks. This latest contract comes on the heels of ADES Holding’s recently awarded campaigns in Qatar and Thailand, set to begin in the second half of 2024. As a result, the services company has
Mozambique’s Coral South floating LNG (FLNG) facility reached a critical milestone on Monday, successfully passing a performance test achieving production above 3.4 million tons per year. Dual mixed refrigerant LNG process technology and equipment developed by global industrial gases company Air Products passed the evaluation, enabling maximum efficiency, increased reliability and reduced environmental impact. In addition to its proprietary equipment and technology, Air Products provided technical advisory services for the installation, commissioning, start-up and performance
Arrow Minerals, an exploration and development company, has discovered high-grade mineralization at its newly acquired Simandou North Iron Project in Guinea-Conakry. During the initial drilling phase in February, the company unearthed promising results from the first five holes, with surface samples showing grades as high as 63%. Additional testing of 392 samples is currently underway. With a commitment to establishing a direct shipping grade iron mining operation by June, Arrow Minerals plans to capitalize on
