News
Valterra Platinum forecasts record interim earnings surge on stronger PGM prices, volumes
Valterra Platinum has issued a trading statement for the six months ended 30 June 2026, forecasting headline earnings of between R18.5 billion ($1.12 billion) and R22.2 billion ($1.34 billion), representing an increase of more than 1,388%...
Today
Tatneft to extract lithium from associated waters during oil production
Tatneft has begun construction of an industrial-scale sorbent production facility with a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year. These materials will enable the extraction of lithium from associated waters at oil fields, as reported by TASS.
Today
Ekati diamond mine to be closed down after failed attempts at sale
The Ekati diamond mine in Canada will be shut down by court order after its owner, Burgundy Diamond Mines, failed to find a buyer for the asset.
17 july 2026
Zijin begins lithium exports from DRC's Manono project to China — report
Zijin has started exporting lithium concentrate from its Manono project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Reuters.
17 july 2026
Nornickel CEO claims global demand for company’s metals ‘stable’
The demand for Norilsk Nickel metals in the global market is stable, but the situation with logistics and sales will remain difficult, said president of the company Vladimir Potanin during a meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
17 july 2026
Paul Zimnisky warns diamond trade at "crossroads" as geopolitical tensions, pending De Beers sale, and LGDs reshape market
30 march 2026
As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East, diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky warns that the impact is most acute at trading hubs like Dubai, where flight cancellations and travel fears are keeping buyers away. In a wide-ranging interview with Rough&Polished, Zimnisky, an independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant based in the New York City metro area, stressed that natural diamond supply has dropped dramatically—down over 50 million carats annually in the past decade—and shortages of larger stones are already driving price momentum.
From Harry Oppenheimer’s Kimberley House to Hong Kong: SDT's Conrad Van Der Ross on 35 years in diamonds
23 march 2026
South Africa's State Diamond Trader (SDT) operations manager Conrad Van Der Ross has witnessed the diamond industry transform over three and a half decades—from his nervous start as a De Beers trainee sorter in pre-democracy South Africa to helping shape the country's beneficiation strategy and reclaim the South African diamond brand on international stages like Hong Kong.
Rough diamond shortage squeezes emerging South African beneficiators, Macs Diamonds founder warns
16 march 2026
South Africa’s Macs Diamonds founder Macdonald Mogale has identified a shortage of rough diamonds as the most pressing challenge facing emerging beneficiators amid prolonged subdued market conditions. Speaking to Rough & Polished, Mogale noted that the supply constraint affects the entire industry but is particularly acute for smaller businesses competing for limited resources. Mogale credited the State Diamond Trader (SDT) with playing a crucial role in supporting emerging entrepreneurs by supplying rough diamonds, which he described as essential for companies involved in beneficiation.
De Beers swings to $511m loss as diamond market weakens
02 march 2026
De Beers recorded an underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) loss of $511 million in 2025, swinging from a $25 million loss in the prior year, as challenging trading conditions and stock rebalancing initiatives weighed on earnings. Below are excerpts from the interim financial report gleaned by Rough & Polished.
Svetlana Stepanova: A jeweller must consider many factors when creating a piece
23 february 2026
The Russian jewelry brand Cappulo was founded in Moscow in 2010 by jewelry designer Svetlana Stepanova. It specializes in premium handcrafted jewelry pieces featuring 18K gold and rhodium-plated silver. Svetlana is a winner of the Russian Diamond Line and the Russia 21st Century jewelry design awards held by the Gokhran of Russia.
African Diamond Council threatens alternative certification system
26 january 2026
The African Diamond Council (ADC) has launched a scathing critique of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and issued a direct ultimatum to the incoming 2026 chair, India, demanding fundamental reforms or facing Africa's strategic withdrawal from the system. The ADC chairperson, Dr M’zèe Fula Ngenge, told Rough&Polished in an exclusive interview that failure to enact these reforms by the end of India's 2026 term would trigger a coordinated disengagement of African nations from the KP.
Paul Zimnisky warns diamond industry is "killing the proverbial golden goose," urges radical split from LGDs
29 december 2025
Diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky delivered a sobering assessment of the sector's 2025 performance, placing blame squarely on the trade's own practices. He argued that by marketing natural and lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) as interchangeable products, the industry is eroding the unique value proposition of natural stones and "risks killing the proverbial golden goose."
Goldplat reports challenging year with strategic shifts amid lower profits
22 december 2025
Goldplat PLC's annual report for the year ended 30 June 2025 presents a year of operational and financial challenge, marked by a significant reduction in profitability. The company reported a profit after tax attributable to owners of GBP1,01 million ($1.35 million), a decrease from GBP4,208,000 ($5.6 million) the prior year, primarily driven by a business model change in Ghana and an impairment charge.
David Johnson: De Beers charts cautious Angola return amid industry transformation
24 november 2025
De Beers is rebuilding its presence in Angola through government partnerships and community engagement, marking a strategic comeback following its difficult exit years ago from the diamond-rich nation. However, De Beers spokesperson David Johnson cautioned that establishing a revenue-generating mine remains a long-term prospect, telling Rough & Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa that "it would be several years at least before a mine could be developed from a commercially viable deposit."
Maria Krasnova: Colored gemstones are a serious investment
17 november 2025
Maria Krasnova, Executive Director of the renowned company “Samotsvety ot Sokolov” (Gems by Sokolov), spoke to Rough&Polished about the Gemstone project aimed at selling precious stones, as well as about current market trends, new challenges in gemology, and gemstones as an investment.
