Barend Petersen, Chairperson of De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM), representing the company’s South African operations, emphasized that while De Beers is a major player, the industry as a whole must share responsibility. “De Beers is not the industry. We are a significant player, but others must also step up,” he told delegates at last week’s Joburg Indaba, South Africa’s annual mining conference.
Under the accord, producers are asked to contribute 1% of their annual rough diamond sales to support global marketing efforts coordinated by the Natural Diamond Council. De Beers has pledged its share, and Angola has committed $8 million — equivalent to 1% of its rough diamond sales for the second half of the year — which De Beers has agreed to match.
Despite this, many of South Africa’s junior mining operators, which collectively account for roughly 25% of the country’s annual diamond output, have resisted the contribution, citing concerns that the levy would be an unfair financial burden.
South Africa is a signatory to the Luanda Accord, which was signed in June alongside Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So far, the Natural Diamond Council has not received contributions from any of the participating diamond-producing countries, highlighting challenges in securing collective support for the initiative.
