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ODC revenues pass $1bn; De Beers, gov’t wrangle

One of a kind: ODC is entitled to purchase up to 25% of Debswana’s production, which has included rare gems such as the Okavango Blue PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI
One of a kind: ODC is entitled to purchase up to 25% of Debswana’s production, which has included rare gems such as the Okavango Blue PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI

State diamond trader, Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), raked in revenues of $1.1 billion (P14.4 billion) in the 2022 calendar year, nearly 15% higher than 2021, in a performance that likely fortifies government’s demands for a higher allocation of stones to the company from Debswana.

The revenues in 2022 were an all-time high for the ODC, the 11-year old wholly government-owned company that is entitled to purchase up to 25% of Debswana’s output. ODC was borne out of the 2011 negotiations between government and De Beers for a new sales deal, which saw the state successfully securing an agreement to establish its own diamond trading platform independent of the De Beers sales ecosystem.

The revenue performance in 2022 came off the sale of six million carats, ODC managing director, Mmetla Masire told BusinessWeek.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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