12 Nov 2020

Lucara Botswana team led by managing director Ms Naseem Lahri, yesterday showed President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi its latest find, a 998-carats stone. 

Ms Lahri said the stone, measuring 67x49x45mm, was the fourth largest in the world at the moment.

The stone was discovered at Karowe Diamond Mine which had so far produced three of the largest diamonds in the top five, she said. 

Ms Lahri described the latest discovery as momentous for the mine saying it was the only operation in the world that discovered three stones in excess of 1  000 carats.

 Explaining that the stone was recovered in the “Mega Diamond Recovery” (MDR), an XRT technology that allowed for diamond recovery post primary crushing and prior to milling, she said the quality of the technology assisted the mine to recover such stones. 

The managing director said the technology was unique.

Meanwhile Ms Lahri has said Lucara Botswana contributed to the country’s development through royalties of 10 per cent, tax and social corporate investment.

She said the mine’s participation in both rough and polished diamond markets allowed the operation to pay in excess of 22 per cent and up to 55 per cent in taxes.

Saying  social corporate investment activities were very important to the mine, Ms Lahri  said it strived for communities it assisted to exist beyond the mine. 

The company is currently engaged in projects such as Mukubilo Integrated Farm, setting up an abattoir and building a sporting facility in Letlhakane. 

Citizens make up 98 per cent of its staff complement.ends