AK6 mine ownership to change hands

James Campbell, MD of African Diamonds, told Miningmx he met with Gem CEO Clifford Elphick during the Botswana Resource Sector Conference in Gaborone on July 24 soon after his company declared a dispute with De Beers over AK6.

Gem Diamonds is currently involved in the development of the controversial Gope project in the CKGR. The company bought the project from De Beers last year for $34.1m.African Diamonds owns 28 percent of JV company Boteti, which controls AK6 but is in dispute over development of the mine with De Beers, which owns 71 percent of Boteti.Said Campbell: "We had a general discussion with Elphick and some of the Gem directors. We get on well with Gem and have great respect for their talents and expertise. We recommended that they approach De Beers." Elphick could not be reached for comment.