Zimbabwe Plans Production Hike in 2019

RAPAPORT... Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) expects a 46% jumpin its rough-diamond production in 2019. The nation's rough-diamond output will reach 4.1 millioncarats this year, up from 2.8 million last year, the miner told RapaportNews last week. In 2017, the company produced 1.8 million carats. Prices ofrough should also increase as the state-owned miner implements a new diamond strategy it announced in December that includes offering rough stones through tenders, auctions or contractsales, it noted. The changes will expand its potential market and enhance prices, a company spokesperson added.  ZCDC has also partnered with Russia's Alrosa and China'sAnjin Investments on greenfield and brownfield exploration and mining projects in Marange,as well as other parts of the country, it said. The miners will join MurowaDiamonds, which is already operational, as the only mining companies apart from ZCDC to operate in Zimbabwe. Any other companies interested in mining in Zimbabwe willneed to partner with one of the four companies currently approved for operationin the country, ZCDC added. Alrosa has stated that it will not mine at Marange, and willinstead look at new, unexplored areas of the country. "We will apply for several areas for exploration soon," Alrosa told Rapaport News. "Today, we are looking at the deposits thatare not in operation, and, if there is a potential, we will start working -primarily with additional in-mine exploration." The government of Zimbabwe will own a 46% stake in thecountry's diamond-mining operations, while a Community Share Ownership Trust will retain 5%, it said. The state plans toincrease its share to 49%, but may lower that depending on the initial capital invested. ZCDC has also put new systems in place to ensure ethicalstandards in the industry and curb illegal activities, it said. "ZCDC's thrust is to operate within the laws of Zimbabwe andto adopt best practices, tenets and auspices of corporate governance," itadded. Image: Rough diamonds. (Shutterstock)