Peter Meeus
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A record number of sales were achieved at the Dubai Diamond Exchange’s (DDE’s) inaugural Zimbabwe diamond tender, held in Dubai from March 23 to 30, DDE chairperson Peter Meeus said on Sunday.
The tender, facilitated by Global Diamond Tenders DMCC, realised a total value of $29.2-million from the sale of rough diamonds from Zimbabwe-based mining companies Anjin Investments, Jinan, DTZ, Diamond Mining Company, Marange Resources, Mbada Diamonds and Kusena.
The tender achieved an average price of $76/ct, with the highest price a carat reaching $5 000.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said the Zimbabwe government earned $4.3-million in royalties from the total sales.
“The DDE has and will continue to support African diamond markets by ensuring the appropriate infrastructure is available to facilitate the trade between producing and consuming nations,” Meeus said in a statement.
He concluded that the transparent trading was expected to boost the liquidity position of the country that was believed to boast 30% of the world’s diamond reserves.