The 2023 Kimberley International Diamond Symposium (KIDS) will be held in Kimberley, South Africa, on August 24 and 25.
The most recent KIDS was held in 2014.
The conference, co-hosted by the South African Diamond Producers Organisation (Sadpo) and the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA), will focus on research and new technologies being used in all aspects of the business, including diamond prospecting and mining.
“The conference comes at a time where there's a lot of uncertainty in the international diamond industry,” Sadpo vice chairperson Lyndon de Meillon was quoted as saying by Mining Weekly.
He said they strive to address burning issues in the diamond industry, both locally and internationally, by inviting relevant experts in the field to not only share their views but also participate in panel discussions.
Diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky will open the conference with a keynote address.
Meanwhile, De Meillon said the tough global economic conditions are contributing to greater demand for lab-grown diamonds, placing added pressure on the natural diamond market.
“In difficult economic times, it becomes more and more attractive to look at lab-grown diamonds. You can buy a maybe 1 ct diamond for half the price or less than the natural diamond equivalent. When the economy turns bad and people struggle, they look at the cheaper options,” he said.
“The South African government's inability to manage the mineral resources of South Africa to anyone's benefit is now the biggest threat to the junior mining sector in general and very specifically to the junior diamond mining sector.”
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
The most recent KIDS was held in 2014.
The conference, co-hosted by the South African Diamond Producers Organisation (Sadpo) and the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA), will focus on research and new technologies being used in all aspects of the business, including diamond prospecting and mining.
“The conference comes at a time where there's a lot of uncertainty in the international diamond industry,” Sadpo vice chairperson Lyndon de Meillon was quoted as saying by Mining Weekly.
He said they strive to address burning issues in the diamond industry, both locally and internationally, by inviting relevant experts in the field to not only share their views but also participate in panel discussions.
Diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky will open the conference with a keynote address.
Meanwhile, De Meillon said the tough global economic conditions are contributing to greater demand for lab-grown diamonds, placing added pressure on the natural diamond market.
“In difficult economic times, it becomes more and more attractive to look at lab-grown diamonds. You can buy a maybe 1 ct diamond for half the price or less than the natural diamond equivalent. When the economy turns bad and people struggle, they look at the cheaper options,” he said.
“The South African government's inability to manage the mineral resources of South Africa to anyone's benefit is now the biggest threat to the junior mining sector in general and very specifically to the junior diamond mining sector.”
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
