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

Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products

Artur Salyakayev is an art entrepreneur, founder of the International Jewelry Academy (IJA) and the INCRUA jewelry company. He has initiated and developed successful projects in jewelry industry and services sector. He is also a leading expert...

30 september 2024

Petra in talks with Tanzania to resume operations in FY2022

28 july 2021
Petra Diamonds says discussions with the government of Tanzania to reach an agreement on various issues at the Williamson mine are ongoing, intending to be concluded during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2022.
Tanzania blocked Petra’s parcel of 71,654.45 carats that had been packaged for export on August 31, 2017.
Tanzania claimed that the blocked diamonds were worth $29.5 million at the time, but Petra had under-declared the stones for export. 
However, Petra said it was not responsible for the provisional evaluation of the stones. 
The Williamson mine had been on care and maintenance throughout the fiscal year 2021.
Meanwhile, the company said that $10 million of VAT refunds were received from the Tanzanian Revenue Authority in two separate payments during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2021.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished