DTC Botswana has appointed Shrenuj Botswana (Pty) Limited as a DTC Botswana Sightholder, according to a release from De Beers.

The release says: “The unprecedented global economic downturn threatened the viability of an existing cutting and polishing factory in Gaborone, and Shrenuj Botswana’s intervention now means that up to 150 jobs will be saved, and the Shrenuj Botswana factory will now continue to manufacture diamonds to benefit the citizens and economy of Botswana.

Shrenuj Botswana is part of the Shrenuj India Group, which has been a DTC Sightholder since 1982.

The new ownership will mean a change of focus for the factory, which will be working on a range of rough diamonds suitable for Shrenuj’s international downstream requirements for the key global consumer markets, the statement said.

Shrenuj Botswana has separately been granted an operating licence by the Government of Botswana.

JCK