Diamond - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Jean Claude Muyambo Kyassa, national president of the Congolese Solidarity for Development and Democracy (SCODE) warned on Monday (April 27, 2020) about cases of repeated diversion within the Gecamines, a public company based in the Katanga region. He accuses Albert Yuma, chairman of the Gécamines Board of Directors, of embezzling US$260 million. “There’s diversion to The Gécamines. We want to know where the money from this company is going. Panda and Shituru’s releases to Likasi brought in $300 million, according to the World Bank. The assessment had already been made.… Read More Here

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Lucapa finds 171-carat diamond at Angola mine

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 arnbethnic

Australia’s Lucapa Diamond (ASX:LOM) has recovered a 171 carat gem-quality stone from its prolific Lulo mine in Angola, which was restarted in early May. The miner said the white diamond is the 15th 100-plus carat it has recovered to date from Lulo and the second 100-plus carat precious rock found in 2020. IT WAS RECOVERED FROM MINING BLOCK SIX, WHERE FIVE OTHER 100-PLUS CARAT DIAMONDS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY UNEARTHED The diamond was recovered from mining block six, where five other 100-plus carat diamonds had been previously unearthed. Mining blocks six and eight have now produced 13 of… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Diamond International

Russia, Congo, Botswana hold 80% of global diamond reserves

May 13, 2020May 13, 2020 Copperbelt Katanga News

Diamonds reserves in Russia, Congo and Botswana combined account for at least 80.6% of the world’s total, estimated at about 1.1 billion million carats, a report released on Wednesday shows. According to data gathered by London-based Learnbonds.com, Russia has the largest reserves at 650 million diamond carats, representing about 52% of the global capacity. Congo comes in second with 150 million carats or 13% of the world’s total, the report shows, while Botswana takes the third place, with diamond reserves totalling 90 million carats. South Africa and Australia also account… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Diamond Gold

Mining Companies in the DRC

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020 arnbethnic

With an estimated USD 24 trillion in untapped mineral deposits of cobalt, diamonds, gold, copper, and other minerals, the DRC is a key mining destination, with a large number of mining companies actively operating across the country. Mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo include both large, international mining houses and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining companies (ASM). DRC’s active mining companies: • African Metals Corp • Amani Gold • AngloGold Ashanti • ARC Minerals Ltd • Armadale Capital Plc • AVZ Minerals Limited • Banro Corporation •… Read More Here

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Lucapa Diamond restarts Lulo mine in Angola

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020 arnbethnic

Australia’s Lucapa Diamond (ASX:LOM) is restarting operations at its Lulo mine in Angola on a two-shift, six-day week basis, with 50% of its workforce. Mining at Lulo has been halted since April 1, following Angola’s declaration of a State of Emergency to contain the spread of covid-19. The diamond producer noted the plan is to be ready to ramp up to full- scale operations once restrictions are completely lifted. MINING AT LULO HAS BEEN HALTED SINCE APRIL 1, FOLLOWING ANGOLA’S DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF COVID-19… Read More Here

Diamond Mining in DRC

MP Eric Ngalula calls for investigations on a Chinese company mining in Kasai

April 30, 2020June 26, 2020 arnbethnic

National MP Eric Ngalula is calling for the audit of the shares of the Chinese company Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (AFECC), which is involved in diamond mining in Kasai. In a letter to Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba on Monday (April 27th), he accused the company of failing to achieve the socio-economic projects it had set out in the agreement reached in March 2013 with the Congolese state. According to him, AFECC had committed to carry out certain infrastructure construction projects, including hydroelectric power plants, in return for the exploitation of… Read More Here

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South African Q1 diamond production up 97% – Anglo

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 Copperbelt Katanga News

Diversified mining company Anglo American reported on Thursday that its first-quarter diamond production in South Africa increased by 97% to 0.8-million carats as the final ore from the opencast Venetia mine in Limpopo was mined prior to transitioning to underground mining, Venetia’s underground mine will extend operational life to 2045. In its first quarter production report for the three months to March 31, Anglo stated in a release to Mining Weekly that overall rough diamond production by De Beers was in line with the prior year at 7.8-million carats, with limited impact from… Read More Here

Diamond Covid-19 International

Gem Diamonds to restart Letšeng mine despite lockdown

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 arnbethnic

Gem Diamonds (LON:GEMD) said on Friday that the government of Lesotho has allowed it to resume operations at its Letšeng mine, even though the country is in lockdown until May 5. Letšeng is the world’s highest dollar per carat diamond mine. (Image from: Gem Diamonds’ presentation.) The Africa-focused diamond producer noted that the mine will reopen on April 27, following a phased ramp-up plan and in compliance with protocols for preventing the spread of covid-19. LESOTHO’S MINE WILL REOPEN ON APRIL 27, FOLLOWING A PHASED RAMP-UP PLAN, IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROTOCOLS FOR PREVENTING THE… Read More Here

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Global Diamond Mining Industry | The Way Forward 2020

March 31, 2020 arnbethnic

Alrosa and DeBeers are the two companies that share half of the world’s diamond supply. Whether you have ever owned an actual piece of diamond jewelry or not, you have probably heard about the dark history of the diamond trade. The concept of a blood diamond came from different parts of the African continent where diamond mining companies were exploiting workers and entire communities for profit. People have been suffering in gruesome conditions, and human rights organizations are still in the fight to end this issue. While… Read More Here

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De Beers diamond buyers locked out in Botswana travel ban

March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 Copperbelt Katanga News

De Beers, already grappling with a prolonged industry crisis created by the coronavirus outbreak, now has another headache to contend with: how to conduct diamond sales when key customers are blocked from traveling? Botswana, where De Beers conducts its 10 sales each year, on Monday announced a travel ban on 18 high-risk countries as part of an array of measures to protect itself from the pandemic. The list included Belgium, India and China, which are home to many of the world’s leading diamond dealers. Botswana is the second-biggest diamond producer,… Read More Here