Energy Features Headlines

Botswana moves to reclaim diamond legacy with De Beers takeover

Botswana is racing to finalize a deal for majority control of diamond giant De Beers by the end of October, as President Duma Boko declares the move “a matter of economic sovereignty for Botswana.” The southern African nation, already holding 15% of De Beers, is negotiating with Anglo American, which is divesting its 85% stake […]

Business Emerging Markets Features Headlines

Botswana and De Beers ink landmark diamond deal amid economic uncertainty

Botswana and South African mining giant De Beers have finalized a landmark 10-year agreement, enhancing the country’s stake in diamond sales and providing a boost to its critical diamond sector. After six years of negotiations, the deal will see Botswana’s share of rough diamond sales rise from 25% to 30% in the first five years, […]

Africa Features Headlines International

Botswana to join Belgium’s Antwerp as second center for rough diamond certification

Botswana will soon join Antwerp in Belgium to become the second certification center globally to verify the origin of rough diamond for exports to Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries, the nation’s presidency said Thursday (28 November). Following a ban on Russian diamonds issued by the G7 in January this year, Antwerp was selected […]

Africa Business Emerging Markets Headlines International

Angola’s diamond sector to be advanced by new De Beers deal with state-owned companies

London-based De Beers Group and Angolan state-owned companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) pledging to collaborate on opportunities to increase diamond production, to advance Angola’s alluvial mining sector and enhance social development for the benefit of the country’s citizens. To support these objectives, the MoU was inked between De Beers and Angola’s National […]

Business Emerging Markets

Botswana to buy 24% stake in Belgian diamond trader HB Antwerp

The Botswana government announced Monday that it will buy a 24% stake in the Belgian gem trader HB Antwerp, a move that is seen as a possible challenge to De Beers’s dominance of the southern African nation’s diamond industry. “Today is the dawn of a new era of a diamond industry in Botswana as we […]

Business Emerging Markets Energy

Blood diamonds: Botswana wins bid to host anti-conflict diamond watchdog

Botswana, the world’s second-largest diamond producer, has won its bid to host the permanent secretariat of the Kimberley Process (KP), the grouping that certifies that diamonds are not used to fund rebel groups. The KP, a coalition of governments, the diamond industry and civil society representatives, said in a statement on Monday (7 November) it […]