Botswana

In just over 50 years, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the world's poorest countries into a modern middle-income nation. The country's fortunes changed one year after gaining independence in 1966. Geologists had been searching unsuccessfully for diamonds in Botswana since 1955. After 10 years, the team was on the brink of abandoning the search but decided to continue for one more season.

Near the end of 1966, the team found the first kimberlite pipe in the Mochudi area, then diamonds at Orapa one year later. These discoveries marked the start of an exciting period when the major mines of Orapa, Letlhakane and Jwaneng were located.

While economies of countries rich in resources have traditionally grown more slowly than those that lack them, Botswana has achieved the opposite. This is largely due to the country managing its diamond resources in line with a strong long-term vision. Its prosperity is also strengthened by high standards of political stability, governance and investment of wealth.

The discovery of diamonds and the resulting economic investment in diamond mines has boosted other sectors in Botswana, such as transport, construction and financial services. The country's increased national wealth and public spending has improved life for many Batswana, delivering access to free education, as well as healthcare, energy, water infrastructure and transport.

Transporting diamonds

Underpinned by a robust focus on safety, diamonds are extracted from kimberlite in processing plants located at the mines, then sent to the Botswana Government’s Diamond Office for valuation and certification under the Kimberley Process. The diamonds are then shipped to DTC’s central sorting facility in Gaborone, where they are aggregated into assortments for purchase by our rough diamond customers.

Once purchased, the diamonds are transferred via secure courier back to the Botswana Government's Diamond Office in Gaborone for further valuation and certification under the Kimberley Process, before being shipped to our customers’ offices after the sale has been completed. Diamonds that are set aside for beneficiation – the promotion of in-country wealth creation and skills development by supporting diamond-related activities – will be securely transferred directly to our customers’ cutting and polishing factories in Botswana.

As part of the Best Practice Principles and OECD Due Diligence Guidance requirements, every stage of the movement of diamonds must be assessed for potential risks. Because of the environment in which we operate, the management systems we adopt and the training that is provided to all security personnel, our assessment process found that the risks associated with the transport of diamonds in Botswana are very low. We continue to ensure that our systems, policies and processes remain current and effective.