Botswana will establish a diamond certification hub for rough diamonds destined for Group of Seven (G7) countries by 2025, authorities announced on Wednesday. This development comes as an alternative to a widely opposed proposal that would have centralized all G7-bound diamond certification through Antwerp.
A Move Toward Decentralized Verification
The decision follows an analysis conducted by Botswana and Belgium on the southern African nation’s traceability capabilities. In a joint statement, Botswana and the G7 diamond technical team outlined plans to align processes and ensure the certification node in Botswana is fully operational as soon as possible.
Botswana’s President Duma Boko, speaking at the Facets 2024 conference in Antwerp, emphasized the country’s commitment to traceability and responsible mining practices. “Our diamonds must not only shine in beauty but also embody integrity and ethical stewardship,” he said.
A Collaborative Approach
The original plan to establish Antwerp as the sole certification node faced criticism from diamond-producing nations, including Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, who argued that it would unfairly penalize their industries. This prompted the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) to revise its stance.
The AWDC’s vice president Ravi Bhansali, in his opening remarks at the conference, expressed support for decentralized verification. “We actively support the development of rough-diamond verification points in producer nations, starting with Botswana,” he said. The AWDC will share its expertise from the Diamond Office, Antwerp’s longstanding control center for diamond imports and exports.
Namibia and Angola Join the Initiative
Plans are also underway to establish additional G7 verification nodes in Namibia and Angola. Namibia’s ambassador to Belgium, Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, revealed that a G7 technical team had visited the country in September to assess its capabilities.
“The establishment of a G7 verification point in Namibia is not only justified but technically feasible within a short period,” she stated, expressing optimism about receiving official feedback and recommendations from the G7.
A Global Blueprint for Compliance and Transparency
The move signals a shift in global diamond trade dynamics, emphasizing fairness and collaboration. As AWDC CEO Karen Rentmeesters explained, Antwerp is offering its operational framework as a “blueprint” to help meet modern compliance and transparency standards.
By creating decentralized certification hubs, diamond-producing nations aim to enhance their control over the trade while ensuring ethical practices align with G7 standards.