Is Botswana Getting A Raw Deal From De Beers Diamonds - The World News ((exclusive))

Here is where the friction lies:

On paper, it was revolutionary. Debswana, the joint venture, has since produced billions of carats from mines like Jwaneng, often called "the richest diamond mine in the world." However, historians and economic analysts note that while the profit split was 50:50, the sales split was heavily skewed. For decades, De Beers held a monopoly on selling the stones.

: 4/5

While the 2025 agreement improved Botswana's diamond sales share to 50% by 2035, the government argues the 15% stake in De Beers remains unbalanced given its 70% supply share. President Duma Boko is now seeking a majority stake in De Beers to secure control over global pricing and branding, with a bid deadline set for April 16, 2026. For more details, visit mining.com Anglo American Here is where the friction lies: On paper,

Today, De Beers is the largest diamond mining company in Botswana, with a portfolio of mines that include Orapa, Jwaneng, and Venetia. The company's operations in Botswana account for a significant portion of the country's diamond production, and it is estimated that diamonds make up around 80% of Botswana's total exports.

Historically, the joint venture between the government and De Beers, known as Debswana , allocated 75% of all rough diamonds directly to De Beers. This arrangement left Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) with just a 25% share to sell independently. Critics argued that this system starved the local economy of job creation and technical expertise, effectively shortchanging the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds by value.

New frameworks mandate that De Beers actively assist in building Botswana’s domestic cutting, polishing, and diamond-tech capabilities, transforming Gaborone from a mining hub into a genuine technological and financial center for gemstones. : 4/5 While the 2025 agreement improved Botswana's

Historically, De Beers controlled the lion's share of production, but the tide is turning. Under the new 10-year sales agreement signed in February 2025 , Botswana has secured a much larger "slice of the pie": Production Share: Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) —Botswana’s state-owned seller—now starts with Debswana’s production, a significant jump from the previous 25%. Future Growth: This share is scheduled to climb to by 2033, effectively giving Botswana equal selling power. Development Funding: De Beers has committed up to 10 billion Pula ($712 million)

Through a masterclass in economic sovereignty, the southern African nation has successfully leveraged its status as the world’s leading producer of rough diamonds by value to pressure the mining behemoth into historic concessions. By transforming a colonial-era dependency into an aggressive pursuit of corporate control, Botswana has shifted the balance of power in luxury commodities.

To address these concerns, a landmark agreement was formally signed in and reaffirmed in early 2026 . The new terms represent a significant shift in power and profit: The company's operations in Botswana account for a

The government is looking further into the future, actively exploring ways to acquire a direct 25% stake in De Beers itself, representing a massive shift in control. The New Threat: A Shifting Global Market

While this sounds like progress, it fell short of earlier expectations. The provisional "Heads of Terms" agreed to in 2023 suggested ODC’s allocation would hit 50% far sooner. The final 2025 deal sets a more conservative target. Furthermore, in exchange for a modestly increased share of the stones, Botswana agreed to lock in De Beers as the operator and primary marketer for the next three decades.