Helga Pombal: Angola's Stardiam finds solution to the threat posed by lab-grown diamonds

Stardiam manager of production Helga Pombal told Rough&Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa on the sidelines of the Angola International Diamond Conference that lab-grown diamonds are creating a parallel market for more accessible stones, combined with lower...

11 november 2024

Ellah Muchemwa: ADPA to launch Africa's first diamond mining standard next year

The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), which is based in Luanda, Angola, and represents the interests of mainly African diamond producers and those with the potential to produce diamonds, will next year launch the Sustainable Development...

04 november 2024

Dmitry Fedorov: I want our jewelry to be displayed at a museum in the future

Dmitry Fedorov is the founder of the eponymous jewelry house. His main focus is the creation of Orthodox-inspired premium luxury jewelry of high artistic merit. He told Rough&Polished about his journey in the jewelry industry, about choosing the ‘Orthodox...

28 october 2024

Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki

The president of the World Diamond Council takes time out of her busy schedule to tell Rough&Polished readers about the critical work of the WDC. Zerouki, the first female present of the body, which includes all the important industry organizations among...

14 october 2024

James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration

London-listed Botswana Diamonds has expressed optimism about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the exploration database in Botswana to look for new mineralised deposits. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough...

07 october 2024

Sergey Ivanov, President of ALROSA met with João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola

14 november 2017

Sergey Ivanov, President of ALROSA paid a working visit to the Republic of Angola on Monday. During the visit, Sergey Ivanov met with João Lourenço, President of Angola and discussed issues related to the development of bilateral cooperation in the mining and sale of rough diamonds.
The President of Angola stressed, in particular, the importance of higher transparency and effectiveness of the current system used to sell diamonds mined on Angola’s territory. According to Sergey Ivanov, ALROSA is ready to submit appropriate proposals to the Angolan side for consideration. "These proposals will take into account not only international experience, but also the specific features of the Angolan economy and legislation. We believe that their implementation will help to increase profitability and scale up the tax base and dividends in the Republic of Angola," Sergey Ivanov said after the meeting.
At another meeting, this time with José Manuel Ganga Júnior, the recently elected President of ENDIAMA E.P., the country’s national diamond mining company, the parties discussed the operation of CATOCA, their shared joint venture. The president of ALROSA confirmed that by the end of this year his company plans to close the deal for purchasing a 8.2% stake in the share capital of CATOCA from Brazil’s Odebrecht. At present, the shareholding of ALROSA in the authorized capital of this mining company is 32.8%. The transaction value is estimated at $ 70 million.
The parties discussed the issues related to the financing of another international venture, Luaxe, established in May this year, as well as the expansion of cooperation in exploration and study of the resource potential possessed by the diamond industry of Angola.
During the visit, the president of ALROSA also met with the heads of several ministries of the Republic of Angola, as well as with the head of the Administrative Council of Sodiam.
ALROSA is a co-founder of Sociedade Mineira de Catoca and intends to take part in the development of the Luaxe concession (including the Luele diamond pipe) through this partnership. Starting from 2014, ALROSA and ENDIAMA have been carrying out geological exploration in Angola as part of a joint venture.