Letšeng Diamond Recovers the 5th Largest Diamond in the World

        By Rorisang David Mahlo

The Ministry of Mining is pleased to announce the recovery of a 910 carats, type IIa, D-colour through the outstandingly Lesotho`s flagship diamond mining company – Letšeng Diamond. This diamond is ranked as the 5^th largest diamond ever recovered internationally. This history making diamond was recovered on Friday 12^th January 2018 in the late afternoon hours, towards the shifts transition of the day and night shifts.

 The 910 carats is estimated to be valued to the tune of between forty (40) and fifty (50) Million US dollars which is equivalent to  half a Billion Maloti but with potential prospects to sell even much higher than the estimated value depending on the diamond market performance. 

This diamond came shortly after the recently unearthed Christmas discovery of 211 and 217 carats just before closing the calendar year 2017. Also these two were part of the seven (7) large stones over 100 carats recovered by Letšeng diamond only within the year 2017.

Most importantly the auspicious 911.77 carats diamond surpassed the internationally renowned 603 carats- Lesotho Promise that stood the test of time as the first largest germ stone to be recovered by Letšeng Diamond in the production history of the Mine. 

  

The Chief Executive officer of the Gem Diamonds - the mother company to Letšeng, Mr. Clifford Elphick, commented that, “This is a landmark recovery for all of Gem Diamonds’ stakeholders, including our employees, shareholders and the Government of Lesotho, our partner in the Letšeng mine.”

On top of that, in his statement of gratitude before the Hon. Minister of Mining, Elphick expressed that “this diamond came un-expectantly after long time to redeem the Letšeng`s dignified initial strides that set Letšeng on the international markets.”

Moreover “this prestigious stone has restored our hopes that one day and may be tomorrow we are likely to recover even much more bigger stones than this one,” said Elphick with an assertive look on his face. 

On the other side he also showed to the Hon. Minister that the recovered stone also came after the 1,109 carats produced by Karowe Mine in Botswana in the Southern African region. 

Lastly, Elphick wrapped up his presentation by reminding the Hon. Minister of Mining about the remarkable production history that kept Letšeng consistently competitive even during the hard times as thus:  The remarkable diamonds recovered from Letšeng included:

2006 – Lesotho Promise…. (603 carats),
2007 – Lesotho Legacy….. (493 carats),
2008 – Leseli La Letšeng… (478 carats),
2011 – Letšeng Star………..(550 carats),
2014 – Yellow…………….(299 carats),
2015 – Letšeng Destiny…..(314 carats) and
2015 – Letšeng Dynasty….(357 carats).

“Also, the 2018`s 910 carats whose name is yet to be decided by the board , also came in full force and changed the declining and fading history of the Mine,” concluded Elphick.

In his words of appreciation the Minister of Mining, Hon. Keketso Sello, first commended the Management and the staff of Letšeng for the recovery of such big gem stone adding in the history of the Mine. “I feel sincerely privileged and honoured that under my authority or tenure, Letšeng was this much blessed,” said Hon. Minister Sello.

Most importantly, I am going to follow it up and watch with keen interest to see what value will this diamond and others that came before add to the country`s gross domestic products. “On this one, I think the national statisticians and economists of this country have an assignment to help us in this regard,” said the Minister Sello.  

  

Nevertheless, the Hon. Minister flashed back from the previous discussions held during his visit to the mine that he recalls crystally clear that amongst many things that Letšeng has promised do as we start the New Year 2018, is the construction of a better police station for the mine area as per his instruction. “Therefore with the recovery of the stone of this nature, I understandably cannot foresee any reason why Letšeng will ever fail to build such an office that is meant for their protection and crime prevention,” he reiterated with emphasis.

“Moreover and emanating from your today`s presentation that Letšeng is procuring at ninety four percent (94%) from the local suppliers which is an economic factor that benefits and increases the local economy - I just want to be at par with you and fully attest to this claims through proven testimonies evident to everyone,” Hon. Sello emphasised.

Adding that it is his ambition to see this mine keeping warm and honouring the harmonious relations with its neighbours and the local suppliers where Basotho will be given an opportunity and the stake in the services that the mine is procuring.

He finally concluded his speech by congratulating Letšeng Diamonds Mine for their milestone recovery and wished them more blessings of recovery of the best gem stones ever in the New Year - 2018. 

Letšeng Diamond Mine is famous for its large, top quality diamonds, with the highest percentage of large diamonds of any kimberlite mine, making it the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world. Not only are Letšeng’s diamonds the highest valued kimberlite diamonds in the world, but are also from one of the highest diamond mines in the world, at an altitude of over 3100 metres. 

Letšeng Diamonds (Pty) Ltd holds the mining lease granted in 1999 by the Government of Lesotho. Letšeng Diamonds has two shareholders; Gem Diamonds Limited owns 70% and the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho owning the remaining 30%.