Botswana Diamonds, which previously showed a strong appetite for joining the bandwagon in Zimbabwe diamond exploration is now disenchanted.
The diamond junior said it has no future plans of going back to Zimbabwe after its efforts to secure a diamond concession in Marange were frustrated by Harare.
Company chairperson John Teeling told our African Bureau Editor In Chief Mathew Nyaungwa that the block they had signed up for in Marange was unilaterally given to a Chinese group.
He also claimed that Botswana Diamonds gave up a licence in the Chimanimani area - it had obtained by conceding 69 percent to local interests - when it was asked to pay $3 million in cash for the 31 percent it owned.
The diamond junior also sampled the Beitbridge area but failed to obtain satisfactory results.
Below are the excerpts
Botswana Diamonds and its partners in Zimbabwe had a sampling programme in the Masvingo/ Beitbridge area. The last time we spoke, you indicated that results were not yet out. Can you provide an update of this project?
We sampled Beitbridge. We did not like the results so we dropped the ground. This was partly due to the title and political difficulties in Zimbabwe.
Are you encouraged with the latest discovery of four kimberlites in Zimbabwe’s Bikita, which is closer to the area you conducted the bulk sampling?
We have no plans to go back to Zimbabwe.
You recently indicated that your bid to obtain a concession in Marange was frustrated. What happened with the authorities in Zimbabwe?
We were totally frustrated in our attempts to gain a licence. We signed up Block J in Marange. While awaiting presidential ratification the block was unilaterally given to a Chinese group.
We obtained a licence in the Chimanimani area by conceding 69 percent to local interests. Unfortunately locals who just want cash demanded $3 million for the 31 percent. We did not give it to them.
Botswana Diamonds said it recently entered into an option agreement with a Mozambican company, Morminas to explore potential for alluvial and eluvial deposits which may have been washed down from Zimbabwe’s Marange. Can you shed more light on this?
The River Save, or Sabi as it was called, drains the Marange area of Zimbabwe. Botswana Diamonds surveyed the area in Mozambique, south east of Marange. There is an expectation of alluvial and eluvial diamonds washed down from Marange. We have optioned two blocks on the river. We are currently reviewing all available data prior to a sampling programme on the blocks.
How optimistic are you of finding diamonds in this area?
There should be diamonds in the River Save so we are optimistic.
Botswana Diamonds is said to have engaged a Russian diamond mining firm (believed to be ALROSA) to help it identify large diamondiferous kimberlites in Botswana. How far has this project gone?
We are awaiting final ratification of our joint venture with a Russian diamond company. Significant work has been done in the past 15 months. The Russians are employing a firm-specific technology to identify anomalies which they believe will contain diamondiferous kimberlites. Results to date are impressive. In the Orapa area narrow targets have been identified. Once we obtain the ground these targets will be drilled. The results impressed not only Botswana Diamonds but also our partner so we have extended the study to the Gope and Jwaneng areas.
What is the update on drilling your company commenced last February on a highly prospective 249 km2 exploration licence in Botswana’s Orapa?
We drilled four holes in PL170 on previously identified anomalies. All four hit intrusions but none were kimberlites.
Which other areas are you targeting in Botswana?
We optioned 13 blocks in the Gope area and are reviewing all available secondary data. Once this is completed we will have it analysed by our Russian partners. If results are positive we will negotiate a long term joint venture.
Botswana Diamonds announced the recovery of its first gem in Cameroon last July where it has an exploration permit for a concession in the Mobilong field. Can you provide an update on this project?
Cameroon is on hold until we conclude talks with our neighbours, CNK of Korea who are developing a mine on adjacent ground. We hope to agree a form of co-operation with them.
Cameroon was admitted last August to the Kimberley Process. What is the future of diamond mining in the West African country?
The Cameroon diamonds are very old in paleoplacer conglomerates – like Marange. Not enough is known yet about them but the potential is very big. The stones we have seen are better quality than those in Marange.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
