AIM FOR THE STARS: Namibia Desert Diamonds CEO, Alisa Amupolo
AIM FOR THE STARS: Namibia Desert Diamonds CEO, Alisa Amupolo

Namdia ready to sell more diamonds

Namdia prepared to handle larger volumes
Namdia is currently in a transition phase to position it to handle increased capacities in the future.
Ogone Tlhage
Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) says government should not be modest when it enters into negotiations to iron out a new sales agreement with De Beers, adding it stands ready to handle bigger volumes on behalf of government.

Namdia currently trades rough diamonds on behalf of government and is entitled to 15% of Namdeb’s total run of production per annum.

According to Namdia CEO Alisa Amupolo, the marketing agency can handle bigger volumes on behalf of government.

The Botswana government was able to secure 50% of all diamonds produced in that country for its polishing and marketing company, the Okavango Diamond Company, following the inking of a new agreement earlier this month with DeBeers.

"We are still saying we are able to handle double, triple, give us 50% if you aim above the stars and aim for 75%, why not give us? We believe that can also be the case for Namibia; we are well equipped, we have institutional capacity," Amupolo said during a sit-down.

Namdia was not handling sufficient cartages for Namibia and stood ready to move more, Amupolo said.

"We have always maintained that Namdia is well equipped to handle any cartage that could emanate from that; we believe that we do not have enough goods in terms of the cartage that we are handling. If you look at our historic trend, we are often sold out, unless we decide deliberately to hold back because we want a premium price," Amupolo said.

In transition

Namdia is also currently in a transition phase to position it to handle increased capacities in the future, Amupolo said.

"We are restructuring as per our new integrated strategic business plan to prepare for that future company. I think the message here is that this institution is well capacitated to handle any volumes, or cartage, that may be off-spinning from the negotiations government will be having with De Beers," Amupolo said.

As part of a previous agreement signed with De Beers, Namibia saw an increase in rough diamonds that were made available for beneficiation, with US$430 million of rough diamonds being offered annually to Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) customers, including the 15% of all diamonds mined in Namibia earmarked exclusively for Namdia.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-27

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