KP members approve diamond exports from Marange

Agree to a slightly modified version of Jerusalem Agreement
KP members approve diamond exports from Marange

Members of the Kimberley Process have approved a proposal to allow legal diamond exports from the Marange mine in Zimbabwe. This move follows an initiative taken by outgoing KP chair - Boaz Hirsch of Israel who circulated a revised version of the Jerusalem Agreement amongst the KP members. Altogether 17 KP members (representing one third of the KP membership) have approved the amended version and paved the way for rough diamonds to be exported from Marange.

What the amendment has done is done away with the veto conditions on the Kimberley Process’s working group, allowing three members rather than two members (as earlier) who can submit a report incase Zimbabwe defaults the KP joint working plan at the Marange mines. Also, while exports will be enabled from two operating mines at Marange – those operated by Mbada and the Zimbabwe Mining & Development Corporation (ZMDC), there is provision for exports to be allowed from future mines being developed in the fields. The Kimberley Process monitor for Marange is no longer required to supervise shipments rather would oversee the compliance at the mines.

Some consignments from Zimbabwe had been exported but held at Dubai free trade zone, as they did not carry a Kimberley certificate. Trade consortium from India are expected to negotiate further imports, reports say. The additional supply boost from Zimbabwe, would further benefit in providing more work at manufacturing units, which are facing a tough spot in terms of supply of rough diamonds.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took over the Kimberley Process chairmanship from Israel since January 1, 2011.


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