In the 1960s, large numbers of diamonds were discovered that had been washed into the Atlantic Ocean from the Orange River. This discovery led to a flourishing marine diamond industry – and Namibia becoming one of the world's leading diamond-producing countries.

Resources are defined and developed by scanning, mapping and sampling the ocean floor. This, with other parameters, then defines a plan for recovering the diamonds from the sea floor in a sustainable manner.

Marine-based diamond recovery operations production

1.1

million carats in 2020


1.1

million carats in 2021


1.7

million carats in 2022


1.8

million carats in 2023


1.6

million carats in 2024


1.4

million carats in 2025


PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

It is critical that operations recovering diamonds offshore adhere to best practice standards that address business, social and environmental risks.

The following certification standards are all verified by third parties to demonstrate that marine-based diamond recovery operations comply with strict and robust requirements that assess social and environmental issues, and the implementation of human rights due diligence frameworks.

  • Best Practice Principles
  • Ensuring that diamonds from DTC have met the highest professional, ethical and technical standards.
  • Learn more

Each year, emerging or evolving risks are considered, and appropriate standards are added to the BPP requirements to address these for annual verification.

  • RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL
  • Addressing issues including human rights, labour rights, environmental impact, mining operations and product disclosure
  • Learn more

ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies the requirements for an effective environmental management system. It provides a framework that an organisation can follow and subsequently be certified against. Being certified against this standard means an organisation has effectively demonstrated that they are running their organisation in an environmentally, and economically, sustainable manner.

ISO 45001:2018 is an international standard that sets out the requirements for occupational health and safety management. It provides guidance that an organisation can follow to develop their own health and safety framework and subsequently be certified against. Being certified against this standard means an organisation has effectively demonstrated that they have created the safest working conditions possible, has identified hazards and put in place controls to manage them, and has helped reduce workplace accidents and illnesses.

Date of Last BPP Audit BPP Compliant Highest Level of Finding RJC Certificate # RJC Certificate Expiry Date
3rd – 5th June 2024 Yes Compliant 0000 5985

View certificate

15th October 2027

 

ISO 45001:2018 certificate # ISO 45001:2018 certificate expiry date ISO 14001:2015 certificate # ISO 14001:2015 certificate expiry date
40027 14 November 2026 EMS 631398 9 August 2027
Social Way Implementation Overview

Social Way 3.0 was launched in January 2020. Given that the marine-based diamond recovery operations do not impact specific host communities in the same manner as land-based mining operations, the majority of the Social Way requirements are not applicable. However, during 2021 the marine-based diamond recovery operations began implementing requirement 3B Incident & Grievance Management and 3C Social & Human Rights Risk & Impact Analysis as part of their existing risk assessment and due diligence processes.

In 2022 the marine-based diamond recovery operations also began implementing requirement 3A Stakeholder Engagement and continues to implement it as best practice for the year 2025.

FOCUSING ON PEOPLE

Namibia is home to some of the world’s most exceptional natural diamonds, recovered from offshore environments along the country’s Atlantic coastline. These diamonds carry with them a legacy shaped by responsible practices, long term partnerships, and a commitment to ensuring that the benefits of diamond recovery reach both people and nature.

Natural diamond recovery in Namibia is closely connected to the country’s development journey, contributing to social progress throughout the country, while respecting the fragile marine ecosystems from which these diamonds originate. Two priorities guide this approach: supporting livelihoods and protecting nature.

Contributing towards education and skills development through nationally recognised science and mathematics programmes delivered with the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), including the National Science Fair, National Science Quiz, and Namibia Mathematics Olympiad from all 14 regions of the country. Early learning is further supported through the “I Love S.T.E.A.M.” initiative, which introduces hands on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into primary school classrooms. Implemented across central, eastern, southern, and north eastern regions, the programme fosters curiosity, innovation, and passion for science among young learners, helping to build a future ready workforce – these initiatives have impacted over 50,000 learners in all 14 regions of Namibia.

Youth development is further strengthened through investment in national sport. Partnerships with the National Football Association (Top Tier Premier League), Netball Namibia, and the Namibia Swimming Federation have helped revitalise national football and netball leagues that were dormant for years. These initiatives support athlete development, stimulate local economic activity, and unite communities across all 14 regions, impacting over 10,000 lives directly. As more young athletes have progressed into professional international leagues and national teams have improved their global rankings (national football team qualified for Africa Cup of Nations and Netball won gold at 2 international competitions (2019 and 2025). Namibia has moved from 33rd to 15th on the international rankings and 5th position in Africa, Sports continues to foster national pride, with Namibia hosting over 400 swimming athletes across Africa. Marine-based recovery operations in Namibia was officially awarded with a trophy by the President of the Republic of Namibia, her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in recognition and appreciation of the Company’s significant contribution to the revival of national level sports in Namibia.

Access to healthcare has been enhanced through initiatives that equip strategically located district hospitals in rural areas with critical, life‑saving medical equipment. These interventions reduce pressure on referral hospitals and improve outcomes for patients closer to home and save lives, through the provision of hemodialysis and reverse‑osmosis machines, endoscopy equipment, maternity theatre lighting, neonatal equipment, wheelchairs, and psychosocial counselling support for medical interns through the University of Namibia Medical School. Rural livelihoods are further strengthened through food‑security initiatives such as rice and poultry production projects delivered through the University of Namibia Ogongo Agricultural Campus, which support agricultural research, localisation of production, equipment, expansion of the rice fields to 7 hectares with a yield of 21 tonnes of rice (3.4t/h) and training of 134 communal farmers from various constituencies. Together, these efforts help ensure that Namibia’s natural diamonds contribute meaningfully to strong, inclusive, and resilient communities.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Namibia’s natural diamonds are recovered from a distinctive offshore marine environment, the Atlantic Ocean, where environmental care is fundamental to origin and all activities are carefully monitored and considered with utmost responsibility towards the ocean systems that shapes and protects these diamonds.

Environmental stewardship lies at the heart of offshore operations. Activities comply fully with legal and regulatory requirements and are informed by ongoing marine research and long-term seabed monitoring. These studies support responsible practices and track ecosystem recovery over time, recognising that while marine environments can regenerate naturally, recovery must be carefully observed and measured over extended periods.

Scientific collaboration is a cornerstone of Marine-based recovery operations in Namibia’s environmental research strategy. Partnerships with leading institutions such as the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) enhance local research capacity while expanding knowledge of the country’s marine ecosystems. Central to this effort is the Marine Scientific Advisory Committee (MSAC), which provides expert guidance, scientific oversight, and strategic direction for environmental and marine studies. Through its advisory role, MSAC ensures that Marine-based recovery operations in Namibia’s research aligns with international best practices, supports high standards of environmental stewardship, and enables the integration of scientific findings into sustainable operational practices.

A key conservation focus is the protection of the critically endangered African penguin along Namibia’s southern coastline near Lüderitz. Conservation initiatives include habitat protection, installation of monitoring equipment on offshore Mercury Island, population monitoring, research, and community awareness programmes. Support was also provided towards the initiation of the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB) and partnership formed towards the development of a national seabird rehabilitation facility, alongside investments were made into robust oil spill response equipment, training, and bicycles for coastal seabird rangers to support regular patrols. Together, these efforts help safeguard this iconic species and the wider marine ecosystem on which it depends.

Diamond derived revenues have also supported terrestrial conservation. Vehicles were provided to the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) to support patrols, monitoring, and joint operations with law enforcement agencies in the Kunene region. These efforts have contributed significantly to reducing poaching and protecting Namibia’s black rhino population, which has shown strong recovery since the Trust’s inception.

Through sustained scientific research and conservation partnerships, care for nature remains central to Namibia’s natural diamond origin, protecting both the ocean and land environments that form an integral part of the natural diamonds’ story.


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