Maseru, Sept. 05 — Prime Minister, Mr. Ntsokoane Matekane says Lesotho is committed to supporting its mines through this downturn period and ensuring that they are part of a global effort to strengthen the natural diamond market.
This, he said during his keynote address at the Africa Down Under Mining Conference in Perth, Australia where he said globally the natural diamond industry is going through a difficult transitory period with prices at historic lows and demand being reshaped by synthetic diamonds and mining companies worldwide retrenching thousands of workers. Therefore he said Lesotho is no exception citing that two of their four mines are on care and maintenance, while the others operate on thin margins.
He said producers across the globe, together with governments such as theirs, are hard at work to re-establish natural diamonds as jewels of choice.
Prime Minister Matekane noted that while the market is uncertain, one fact is that Basotho have proven themselves to be world-class miners and technical professionals.
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