The De Beers Group said in its latest Report to Society, which was published today, that it increased returns to governments, communities, supply chain partners and its joint venture partners by 26 per cent to $5 billion in 2016.

The increase was delivered through taxes, payments for goods and services and dividends and reflects De Beers Group’s improved financial and operating performance, the report said.

De Beers says it generated further socio-economic benefits for its partners through the sale of $1.4 billion of rough diamonds to local cutting and polishing businesses within its producer countries — a more than 70 per cent increase on 2015 — as part of its in-country beneficiation strategy.

Goods and services amounting to more than $1 billion were procured by the company within its producer countries — a three per cent increase — ensuring greater value was realised across domestic supply chains.

The report also highlights that De Beers Group:

Supported more than 640 jobs and 120 businesses through enterprise development projects in southern Africa.

Managed 164,000 hectares of land for conservation — an area five times the size of that affected by the company’s mining activities.

Launched Diamox, Element Six’s industrial wastewater treatment system that purifies highly contaminated water using synthetic diamond material.

Invested a further $5 million in the International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research’s (IIDGR) testing and grading facility in Surat, India, helping to reinforce consumer confidence.

De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver said, “Last year our partnerships delivered significant value for the countries in which we operate. Through our $1 billion investment in local goods and services, we helped put local supply chains to work, sustaining jobs and encouraging socio-economic development.”

He added, “As the world’s leading diamond company, we have a responsibility to the people in the countries we operate in to ensure the value of what we mine below ground is realised at a local level above ground.”

Cleaver ended by saying, “Diamonds are a finite and precious resource, so it remains our responsibility to mine them safely and sustainably, and always while focusing on delivering real benefits for our partners in our operating countries that will be realised long after our last mine closes.”

https://www.gemkonnect.com/news/de-beers-5b-returns-partners-local-communities-2016