Firestone Diamonds has remained silent on when the closed BK11 mine, in Botswana will be re-opened when it recently announced an update on its first quarter operations.
The diamond junior halted operations at BK11 end of February due to what it called operational challenges and weakness in the diamond market.
This saw 143 workers jobless, with only 15 retained to conduct care and maintenance activities at the mine.
Mmegi newspaper reports that Firestone only mentioned tender results of Liqhobong diamonds in the report ignoring those from BK11.
It said that a total of 67 148 ct from Liqhobong were sold at the two tenders held during the quarter, which realised gross revenues of $4.77-million and $71/ct.
Firestone said when it announced the closure of the mine that it would reopen BK11 when diamond prices for lower grade stones improve and the state of its own coffers can support the estimated $5 million cost of uncovering or "stripping" new diamond bearing rock.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
Exclusive
Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns
David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.
11 september 2024
Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever
The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...
02 september 2024
Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company
Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...
19 august 2024
WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges
Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...
12 august 2024
Lyudmila Vysotskaya: Amber is a mystical stone, a living substance
Lyudmila Vysotskaya is a Kaliningrad-based amber artist and designer, expert, chairwoman of the Amber Academy and member of the Creative Union of Artists in Decorative and Applied Arts. This summer, visitors could admire the art works by Lyudmila Vysotskaya...
30 july 2024
