New Diamond Miner Granted License in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe government has granted a license to a company named Global Diamond Trekkers to explore the potential for mining diamonds in a concession located in the Middle Sabi valley, about 100 kilometers southeast of the Marange diamond fields in Chiadzwa, Manicaland province, reports the state-run Herald.

Global Diamond Trekkers says it has engaged a consultancy firm to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project, according to the news source. The company will also reportedly soon conduct an exploration exercise to determine the extent of the alluvial concession's resources. Depending upon the results, the company will then select "the optimum mining method and appropriate processing technology and equipment and allocating economic factors leading to project viability," says the news source.

Global Diamond Trekkers joins the five joint-venture diamond miners currently operating in Marange. Outside of Marange, there are other smaller players in the industry including River Ranch mine in Beitbridge and Rio Tinto's Murowa mine in Zvishavane.

Last month, the EU lifted its sanctions on Zimbabwe's government parastatal, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, which either wholly owns or is in joint ventures with the companies operating in Marange. The ZMDC is now allowed to resume its rough diamond exports into the EU.

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