Africa and Diamonds: A Deep Tale of Wealth, Division, and Hope
Africa. The mere name brings in the picture of large savannas, rich cultures, and immense natural wealth. It is also the continent which has provided the world with most of its diamonds over a century. Ever since the discovery of the first sparkling stone on the banks of the Orange River of South Africa in 1866, the fate of Africa has been indissolubly bound with that most treasured gem.
African diamond is a deep tale of darkness and enlightenment. It is a story of breathtaking geological luck that has created nations, financed infrastructure and raised communities out of poverty. At the same time, it is a tale of division and exploitation and the bitter history of blood diamonds. To learn about the global diamond industry is to learn about central, complicated African control of the industry.
This is not an ordinary article in terms of being a mere ranking; this is a trip to the very center of diamond territory in Africa. To understand the peculiarities of each country, its industry, its major mines, its economic role, and its current path to a more ethical and sustainable future, we will examine the Top 10 Diamond Producing Countries in Africa going beyond production statistics. Through the work of the Kimberley Process (KP) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) we will find our way through the information to give an authoritative and clear eyed view of the continent that still drives the world diamond fantasy.
Analyzing Measures of Production Volume and Value
We need to establish the important metrics a top diamond producer is characterized by before we get into the list.
Production by Volume (Carats)
This is the total amount of physical volume of diamonds mined. The mere act of sifting up more carats than other countries can make a country a leader.
Production by Value (USD)
This is the amount of money the diamonds mined are worth in financial terms. This is the place, where quality is the most important. An individual 10-carat diamond of high quality may be over 10,000 minor, of lesser quality, industrial stones.
This differentiation is outstanding in the African context. Certain countries at the top of this list are volume leaders, some value leaders, and some special few hold the leadership in both.
Best 10 Diamond Producing Countries in Africa
These are the countries that constitute the foundation of the diamond industry in Africa, but in a mixture of the volume of production, value, and overall world importance.
1. The African Success Story Botswana
The undisputed Leader in Value
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Status: The No. 1 Producer by Value in the World, the leading producer in Africa.
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Major Mines: Jwaneng, Orapa, Damtshaa, and Letlhakane.
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Major Participant: Debswana (Government/ De Beers 50/50 Partnership).
Botswana can be viewed as a bright example of the way in which the diamond wealth can change a country. It was among the poorest nations on earth at independence in 1966. Everything changed with the discovery of diamonds, and the subsequent establishment of the Debswana relationship with De Beers.
The Botswana industry is headed by the Jwaneng Mine. It is the richest valued diamond mine in the world most commonly known as the Prince of Mines. One of the largest diamond mines in terms of surface is the larger Orapa Mine. This conglomeration of extremely rich and huge deposits contributes to making Botswana the powerhouse of the world diamond market.
Economic Impact: The diamond industry is a major export and a major GDP contributor to Botswana with the industry contributing more than two-thirds of its revenue. This income has been wisely invested, financing global infrastructure, health and education, to raise Botswana to the level of upper-middle-income. The latest milestone of the agreement between the government and De Beers whereby Botswana will be allowed a 50 percent (instead of 25 percent) portion of the rough diamonds mined by Debswana, further entrenches its grip to its own resources.
2. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Alluvial Colossus
The Volume King
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Status: Largest Producer by Volume (Carats) in the world and Africa.
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Key Region: Kasai Provinces.
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Important Characteristic: Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM).
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a geological giant. It also has the largest volume of carats produced in the world with annual production sometimes surpassing 20 million carats. But its history is of a very different kind with Botswana.
The diamonds within the DRC are mostly alluvial, i.e. occur in river beds and sediments and are scattered across very expansive regions. This geology has created a large artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) industry, with hundreds of thousands of informal miners (called creuseurs) panning gravel by hand to make their living.
Economic Impact: DRC is a major income earner and exporter of diamonds. But the informal aspect of the industry brings with it tremendous challenges: smuggling, absence of government revenue collection, and hard working conditions. The diamonds of DRC are generally smaller and of inferior quality in comparison with those of Botswana, so its production value is very low although the volume is very large. The country continues to be the key target in formalizing the ASM industry and making sure that diamonds can be a more significant development driver.
3. Angola: The Rising Phoenix
A Powerhouse Reborn
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Status: One of the largest World Producers in Value and Volume.
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Key Mines: Catoca, Lulo.
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Important Participant: Endiama (State-owned).
The diamond industry of Angola has experienced a spectacular revival since the civil war ended in the country in 2002. It is among the most exciting and important diamond frontiers in the world with enormous potential that remains untapped.
One of the largest diamond mines on earth, the Catoca Mine is a joint venture between the state-owned Endiama of Angola and the Russian ALROSA, and the largest producer of diamond in Angola. Nonetheless, the true heat is alluvial projects such as the Lulo Mine, which has produced an astounding amount of large, high-quality, special, diamonds, which suggest that the geology of Angola is very rich.
Economic Benefit: Diamond is the second largest export of Angola after oil, and therefore it is essential to diversify the economy. The sector is actively being reformed by the government; smuggling is being dealt with, foreign investment is being promoted. It has not only aimed to mine diamonds, but create a local diamond cutting and polishing sector in order to gain a share of the end product.
4. South Africa: The Old Heartland
The Home of an Industry
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Status: A Historic and Continuing Major Producer.
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Important Mines: Venetia, Cullinan, Finsch.
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Key Player: De Beers Group.
South Africa cannot be left out in a list of African diamond producers. It is here that the discovery of the first diamond at Kimberley in 1867 triggered a rush all over the world and that the rock kimberlite was named so. South Africa was the cradle of the present diamond business.
Its output relative to that of newer giants has decreased; but it is an immensely important producer. The largest producer of the country is the Venetia Mine, which is one of the major assets of De Beers. The Cullinan Mine is a legendary mine, known to have yielded the largest rough diamond of gem quality ever discovered in history – the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond that is today part of the British Crown Jewels. It is still the main source of rare blue diamonds.
Economic Impact: The diamond industry is embedded on the economic and social fabric in South Africa. It stimulated the industrialization of the country. In today times, besides mining, South Africa is a world center in the cutting, trading, and technology of diamonds due to its long history and expertise.