Online Reporter
Africa Moyo-Deputy National Editor
THE Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company started value addition in June after acquiring specialised de-coating equipment from India, as part of Government’s broader strategy to maximise value from the country’s mineral resources before export, the company’s chief executive, Mr Dennis Mtombeni, has said.
Presenting at the Mine Entra exhibition in Bulawayo on Thursday, Mr Mtombeni said ZCDC was implementing several initiatives to improve the quality, marketability and value of local diamonds, in line with Government’s policy thrust on beneficiation.
He said one of the key interventions involves introducing advanced diamond-cleaning technologies, including de-coating, deep boiling and caustic fusion, to improve the appearance and quality of diamonds produced in Chiadzwa.
Mr Mtombeni said the majority of Marange diamonds carry a characteristic brown surface coating that masks the natural clarity of the stones and reduces their market value.
To address the challenge, ZCDC has acquired specialised de-coating equipment from India and commenced trials in June this year.
“Results show positive impact on product quality,” he said, adding that the company was now assessing market response to the cleaner product.
The initiative is expected to enhance the quality, marketability and realised value of Zimbabwean diamonds without necessarily increasing mining output.
Mr Mtombeni said the programme presents an opportunity to upgrade the value of existing production and increase revenue through product enhancement.
He noted, however, that approximately 85 to 90 percent of ZCDC’s production comprises boart diamonds, which attract lower market values than gem and near-gem diamonds.
Beneficiation has become critical at a time when locally mined rough diamonds are fetching between US$22 and US$34 per carat on the international market, compared to about US$100 per carat realised by higher-quality producers elsewhere.
Mr Mtombeni said improving the quality, clarity and appearance of locally produced diamonds through de-coating and other value-addition processes would enable the country to realise better prices and derive greater value from its mineral resources.
Beyond cleaning and upgrading rough diamonds, ZCDC is also pursuing local cutting and polishing as part of efforts to retain more value within the country.
Mr Mtombeni said 10 percent of the company’s diamond production is reserved for the local market, although value addition through cutting and polishing remains limited.
He said ZCDC has previously partnered with Aurex Diamonds Operations in Harare for the cutting and polishing of selected diamonds.
The beneficiation programme comes as Government continues to push mining companies to move beyond the export of raw minerals and invest in downstream processing industries that create jobs, generate foreign currency and support industrialisation.
Mr Mtombeni said ZCDC was also advancing its beneficiation agenda through the proposed A700 Phase 3 Plant Expansion project.
The project will increase processing capacity, improve diamond recovery across the entire ore body and reduce operating costs through expanded use of X-Ray Transmission (XRT) technology.
He added that the project would improve recovery efficiency while reducing ore-haulage costs by consolidating processing operations within a single footprint.
Although funding constraints and subdued global diamond prices remain a challenge, Mr Mtombeni said ZCDC plans to implement the expansion in phases to enable quicker benefits realisation at lower capital cost.
The move is expected to strengthen the company’s contribution to national development while supporting Government’s vision of deriving maximum value from mineral wealth through beneficiation and value addition.
