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

Paul Zimnisky: China key for sustained recovery in demand for natural diamonds, prices

The curtailing of upstream and midstream natural diamond production in the past months is starting to have an effect on prices, according to the New-York-based independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant, Paul Zimnisky. He told Rough & Polished’s...

23 september 2024

Vladimir Pilyushin: The jewelry market is not stand-alone and moves by the same laws as other markets

Vladimir Pilyushin is editor-in-chief of Russian Jeweler, a leading magazine about the jewelry industry in Russia. He told Rough&Polished about his view on the evolution of the jewelry industry in Russia and touched upon some of its problems.

16 september 2024

Community protests have no effect on Implats' JV Makgomo plant – report

10 april 2023
Chrome has been piling up at the Makgomo chrome plant in Burgersfort, Limpopo, as residents and business forums from surrounding communities have camped out at the operation's entrance for over a month in an attempt to prevent trucks from loading chrome.
Impala Platinum (Implats) established the plant, and it owns 30% of it, with the remaining 50% held by communities. 
The remaining 20% stake in the plant is held by Implats' Marula mine.
Mining Weekly reports that protesters are claiming that the agreement only benefits a small number of people.
The Four Form Business Chamber, which represents small businesses, has also asked for a stake in the plant.
A member of the community has expressed an interest in acquiring Implats' 30% stake as well as the unbundling of Concreters, the company selling the chrome.
Implats said the plant's operation has been unaffected by the protest action, with chrome stockpiled on-site.
It advised the community members to approach it with an offer to buy the 30% stake it owns in the plant.

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