Exclusive
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
De Beers’ GemFair buys its 10 000th diamond
The group said the programme has grown from 14 participating mine sites in 2018 to more than 400.
The expansion in member numbers has also supported volume growth, with the number of diamonds purchased increasing by 77% last year and 68% so far this year.
“When we first established GemFair, we had a vision to create a model that could help formalise the artisanal small-scale mining sector while supporting transparency and responsible sourcing,” said De Beers senior vice president of provenance, ethics and industry relations Feriel Zerouki.
“We have learnt a lot over the past six years and have continued to evolve GemFair to maximise its impact for as many miners as possible. However, the most rewarding aspect has been the trust that has been built with GemFair – the confidence miners have in the programme and their eagerness to work alongside our team as they see the benefit in participating.”
De Beers said GemFair recently purchased its largest ever diamond at 69.3 carats and more than 90% of diamonds by value are registered on the Tracr platform to enable traceability as they travel through the value chain.
While De Beers does not have artisanal diamond mining operations, the sector accounts for around 10% of global diamond supply by value and provides a vital – and often the only – source of livelihood for millions of people in some of the poorest parts of the world.
The programme was launched in the Kono region of Sierra Leone, where it continues to operate today, due to the enabling environment that has been created for artisanal and small-scale diamond mining as a result of positive reforms following the civil conflict that ended in the country more than two decades ago.
GemFair has also introduced a programme to reclaim mine sites once mining has ended to aid in improving safety and environmental management practices within the sector.
De Beers said GemFair has since 2020 reclaimed 12 formerly abandoned mine pits and, working with local communities, is transitioning them to productive agricultural use to create a new source of income and food security for those communities.
“De Beers can play a positive role in raising standards and transparency in the artisanal diamond sector,” said group chief executive Al Cook.
“This brings benefit to miners, their communities and the industry at large.”
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief, Rough&Polished