ALROSA CEO Pavel Marinychev announced that Zimbabwean authorities have granted the company gold exploration and mining rights.
Speaking at the Russia-Africa Commodities Dialogue, Marinychev noted that the company received "42 exploration licenses in the least explored areas of Zimbabwe," where, in addition to diamond deposits, associated gold was discovered.
He added that "thanks to good relations with the authorities and its reputation," ALROSA was able to obtain permission to extract associated gold.
"Everyone knows that ALROSA is a responsible subsoil user. Our licenses were supplemented with the right to consider gold as a mineral for inclusion on our balance sheet and for mining, so we are now also involved in gold mining there," he explained.
In September, the diamond mining company's CEO noted that ALROSA was satisfied with the results of the sale of its stake in Angola's Catoca joint venture and was interested in further expansion in Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe.
"ALROSA continues to actively work in Zimbabwe – we see good prospects for the discovery of new diamond and other mineral deposits. Furthermore, ALROSA's expertise remains in demand in the Central African Republic, Mozambique, South Africa, and Namibia," Marinychev stated at the time.
Theodor Lisovoy, Managing Editor, Rough&Polished
