Botswana will establish a certification point for rough diamonds entering Group of Seven (G7) countries next year, authorities announced Wednesday, with discussions underway for additional nodes in Namibia and Angola.
The development follows widespread opposition to a plan for Antwerp to be a “single node” through which all rough destined for G7 markets would pass to ensure it is not subject to Russian sanctions.
Representatives from Belgium and Botswana carried out an analysis of the southern African country’s diamond-traceability capabilities, according to a joint statement by Botswana and the G7 diamond technical team. Both sides are now developing a plan to identify where they need to align, aiming for the node to be fully operational in Botswana “as soon as possible” in 2025, they said.
“Botswana is committed to pioneering traceability and responsible mining practices, ensuring that our diamonds not only shine in beauty but also embody integrity and ethical stewardship,” Botswana President Duma Boko said on Tuesday at the first day of the Facets 2024 conference in Antwerp.
The Belgian government and leadership of the local industry received backlash for the policy of a single node. However, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has shifted away from this approach after appointing Isidore (Isi) Mörsel as its new board president in late 2023 and Karen Rentmeesters as the new CEO earlier this year.
“I am proud to say that our newly elected board and the new management of AWDC have actively supported developing rough-diamond verification points directly in producer nations, starting with Botswana,” said AWDC vice president Ravi Bhansali in his opening speech at the conference. “We support exploring [this model] with Namibia, Angola and other partners.”
The three producer nations protested against the original plan earlier this year, claiming it would penalize them.
This prompted a G7 technical team to visit to Namibia in September, said Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, the country’s ambassador to Belgium, reading a statement on behalf of Namibia President Nangolo Mbumba.
“Various representatives of our industry demonstrated to the visiting experts that the establishment of a G7 rough-diamond verification point in Namibia is not just justified but also technically feasible in a short period of time,” Kaapanda-Girnus revealed. “Namibia therefore looks forward to receiving the official feedback from the G7 and a comprehensive report on the findings and recommendations resulting from the visit.”
To help the process, Antwerp will share the knowledge and expertise it has built up through decades of operating the Diamond Office, its control center for imports and exports, said Rentmeesters in a statement. “Essentially, we are offering a blueprint that meets today’s requirements for compliance and transparency,” she added.
Image: Botswana president Duma Boko speaking at the Facets Conference in Belgium. (AWDC)
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