11 Mar 2015

Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) managing director, Mr Tabake Kobedi says Botswana intends to position the country as a diamond hub. 

Briefing the Ghana president, Dr John Dramani Mahama, at the end on his three-day state visit on March 11, Mr Kobedi said Botswana did not want to be recognised only as a producer of diamonds, but would want to make use of the longer diamond pipeline that would benefit many generations to come. 

The Ghana delegation was accompanied by ministers of minerals, energy and water resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila and foreign affairs minister, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi.

Mr Kobedi said what was taking place in Botswana currently, was the prospecting, mining and recovery of diamonds, with DTCB being responsible for sorting and valuing and De beers doing aggregation and distribution.

“Historically we have not been in the downstream aspect in so far as cutting and polishing is concerned, polished trading and jewellery manufacturing as well as retail. DTCB recognises that there is potential and these are the areas we would like to be more involved in,” he added.

Establishment of the diamond hub was meant to coordinate economic activity in the diamond sector, administering beneficiation activities. Mr Kobedi further briefed the delegation that DTCB sorted 23 million carats and had capacity to deal with 45 millon carats.

He said Botswana was the biggest producer of diamonds in the world by value, while Russia was the biggest producer by volume and that the revenue generated into the country was US$3.5 billion annually. This, he said, was used for developing the country as most of the infrastructure could be ascribed to that resource.

Furthermore, he explained that DTCB was a 50/50 joint venture between the government of Botswana and De Beers which commenced operations in 2008; had over 400 employees, with all positions localised. 

With regard to beneficiation, he said government signed an agreement with De Beers in 2006 that resulted in the establishment of sight holders or cutting and polishing factories in the country. He said today, there were 20 factories, having lost one at the beginning of the year due to economic factors.

At Eurostar Botswana, the delegation was given the opportunity to view fine polished diamonds and toured the facility operations. President Mahama was in Botswana at the invitation of President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama. 

He was accompanied by among others, the first lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills. ENDS