De Beers suspends operations in north Angola

South African diamond giant De Beers said on Friday that it had suspended exploration activities at Cambulo, in Angola’s Lunda North Province, due to military instability in the area, news reports said.

Charles Skinner, director of De Beers’ Angola division, was quoted as saying that prospecting would continue at Lucapa, also in Lunda North Province and at Saurimo, in Lunda South Province.

De Beers began its exploration activities in the three zones in 1996 and has already invested $23-million, according to Skinner. De Beers also holds diamond concessions at Quela, in the northern Malange Province and at Mavinga, in the south-eastern Cuando Cubango Province but, according to Skinner, exploration has not yet begun “because of the war”, reports said.