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Botswana aims to work out bigger stake in HB Antwerp diamond dealer

Botswana intends to renegotiate its proposed purchase of a stake in Belgian gem dealership HB Antwerp to double the size of its shareholding at no additional expense following the downturn in the diamond market, the country's mines minister said on Tuesday.

Botswana is the world's biggest diamond manufacturer by worth, meaning its economy has been disproportionately struck by a drop in demand for diamonds triggered by a global financial downturn.

Lefoko Moagi told parliament the weaker diamond market had also impacted the company's appraisal, giving the nation space to renegotiate.

We will not be injecting more capital, however we will get more shares for the same quantity proposed in 2023, Moagi said. Rather of the 24%, we will work out to get 49.9% for the same amount initially proposed.

Finance ministry budget plan documents displayed in February that the country had reserved 890 million pula ($ 65.95 million) for the 24% stake, valuing the Belgian business at about $275. million.

The HB Antwerp deal was announced throughout Botswana's. negotiations for a brand-new sales contract with Anglo American's. diamond system De Beers in March 2023.

As Botswana sought to increase its power to market its. stones outside a decades-old contract with De Beers, it said. the HB Antwerp deal would strengthen its presence in the. downstream diamond market.

It consists of supplying the trader with rough diamonds for. five years through the state-owned Okavango Diamond Business.

(source: Reuters)