NEWS
IIDGR to Roll Out Synthetics-Detection Course
London: A training course for
synthetic-diamond detection will launch this spring in the US and India,
courtesy of De Beers’ International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research
(IIDGR).
Fresh Defeat for Zimbabwe in Diamonds Battle
Harare: THE state-run Zimbabwe Consolidated
Diamond Company (ZCDC) has been barred by the High Court from pillaging diamond
ore which belongs to Mbada Diamonds (Pvt) Limited, in a new setback for
government’s troubled mining project.
Botswana Vulnerable to Weak Diamond Market
Gaborone: Standard & Poor’s (S&P)
maintained its negative outlook for Botswana last week due to the country’s
continued reliance on the diamond sector.
While diamonds account for approximately
80% of Botswana’s total exports and about one-third of its gross domestic
product, the economy remains vulnerable to a weak performance in the sector,
the financial-services company said Friday.
ALROSA Introduces Special Regime
Moscow: Due to the recent accidents at ALROSA’s
production facilities, the company intends to introduce a special regime of
labor protection and industrial safety starting on May 1, 2017 onwards at all
its divisions operating hazardous industrial facilities. During the special
regime period, the company’s senior engineering and technical employees will
keep twenty-four-hour vigil inspecting workplaces. In the event of
non-compliance with safety and labor protection requirements, the ongoing
works, as well the operation of equipment, buildings, structures and vehicles
will immediately be suspended.
Debswana Begins Processing Cut 8 Ore
Gaborone: Debswana, a joint venture company
between De Beers and Botswana government, has begun processing ore from the $3
billion expansion of its Jwaneng diamond mine, known as Cut 8.
HK records 4.7% rise in Q1 jewellery exports
Hong Kong: Exports of jewellery, goldsmiths
and silversmiths’ wares in Hong Kong reached HK$45.14 billion (around US$5.8
billion) during the first quarter of 2017, up 4.7 percent from the same period
a year ago, the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong revealed.
Zimbabwe lost $144 billion
Harare: Zimbabwe has lost US$144 billion in
potential revenue from the mining sector since 2009, largely due to a plethora
of problems, among them a power supply crisis, punitive tax regime and investor
fatigue caused by unfriendly laws, the Financial Gazette can report.
BIS Proposes Compulsory Registration for Selling Hallmarked Jewellery
Mumbai: The Bureau of Indian Standards
(BIS) has moved a step closer to mandatory selling of hallmarked jewellery. Two
weeks earlier, it issued draft rules which propose compulsory registration for
jewellers with BIS, reports Business Standard.
Sales Enhanced on Akshaya Tritiya
Mumbai: Jewellers were eagerly waiting the
Indian auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya to get a boost in their business. In
fact, the day has proved to be really auspicious for them as the jewellery is
picking up this year.
Diamond Sales Picking up: NDTC
Windhoek: Following a devastating year, the
diamond market experienced during 2015, last year showed a significant
improvement, Sihaleni Ndjaba, the chief executive officer of Namibia Diamond
Trading Company (NDTC), said on Thursday.