Namibia Minute.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

De Beers

Also known as: De Beers Group · De Beers Marine Namibia

De Beers — global diamond company launching marketing campaigns and partnering with Namibia to promote natural diamonds against synthetic competition.

2018-11-162026-06-08
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. June 2026

  2. Windhoek Observer

    De Beers Group has intensified its efforts to boost demand for and unveiled a new phase of its global 'Desert Diamonds' marketing campaign

    Source

    “De Beers Group has intensified its efforts to boost demand for natural diamonds, unveiling a new phase of its global 'Desert Diamonds' marketing campaign.”

    De Beers doubles down on natural diamonds with new campaign
  3. May 2026

  4. Windhoek Observer

    De Beers partnered with Botswana on diamond resource management

    Source

    “Through its partnership with De Beers, Botswana negotiated a far more beneficial arrangement over time, eventually securing substantial state participation and greater control over diamond sorting, trading and value addition.”

    Namibia’s minerals must first serve Namibia

  5. The Namibian

    De Beers are reporting losses

    Source

    “Even gem giants like De Beers are reporting losses.”

    Africa’s Place in the Global Diamond Economy
  6. March 2026

  7. The Namibian

    De Beers created huge wealth from 130 years of diamond mining in Namibia

    Source

    “Compare this to the wealth it created for Anglo American, De Beers and England.”

    Namra targets tax compliance and governance in mineral and petroleum licence transfers

  8. The Namibian

    De Beers was valued at US$2.3 billion, down from US$4.1 billion

    Source

    “This comes as multinational mining company Anglo American dramatically reduced the internal valuation of diamond company De Beers to US$2.3 billion (about N$36.9 billion), following ongoing financial struggles.”

    Debmarine works to mitigate pressures on natural diamonds

  9. Namibian Sun

    De Beers met the President

    Source

    “The diamond company De Beers' delegation, led by CEO Al Cook, met the President.”

    Photo Page

  10. The Namibian

    De Beers owns 50% of Debswana in Botswana

    Source

    “That money comes primarily from Debswana, whose ownership is split 50-50 between the government of Botswana and the South African mining giant De Beers.”

    Botswana’s diamond boom faces threat from synthetics, tariffs
  11. February 2026

  12. Informanté

    De Beers was represented by Chief Executive Officer Al Cook at the meeting

    Source

    “PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah received a senior delegation from the De Beers Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Al Cook, at State House to discuss the future of Namibia's diamond industry.”

    President Nandi-Ndaitwah meets De Beers CEO to discuss diamond sector cooperation

  13. New Era

    De Beers Group is intensifying global marketing strategy for Namibian diamonds under 'Desert Diamonds' brand

    Source

    “Cook told the President that the De Beers Group is in the process of intensifying its global marketing strategy for Namibian diamonds under a new 'Desert Diamonds' brand, which he said could mark a crucial turning point for Namibian rough stones.”

    NNN, De Beers in crunch diamond talks

  14. The Namibian

    De Beers raised total revenue 6% to US$3.49 billion in 2025

    Source

    “De Beers' total revenue rose 6% to US$3.49 billion in 2025.”

    Namibia faces fiscal pressure as synthetic diamonds devalue natural market
Mining & Energy

De Beers launches Desert Diamonds campaign to promote natural diamonds

The News

De Beers Group has intensified efforts to boost demand for natural diamonds through a new phase of its global 'Desert Diamonds' marketing campaign, aiming to distinguish natural stones from synthetic alternatives and capitalize on growing consumer interest. Namibia produced 556,000 carats in the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, and diamonds remain critical to the country's economy.

Why it matters

De Beers' marketing push and Namibia's Q1 diamond output remain vital to the country's economy and export revenue.

5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 5 June

  1. De Beers launches Desert Diamonds campaign to promote natural diamonds

    De Beers Group has intensified efforts to boost demand for natural diamonds through a new phase of its global 'Desert Diamonds' marketing campaign, aiming to distinguish natural stones from synthetic alternatives and capitalize on growing consumer interest. Namibia produced 556,000 carats in the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, and diamonds remain critical to the country's economy.

    5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 27 May

  1. Namibia balances local mineral ownership with investment needs

    The government's proposed 51% local ownership requirement for future mining licences has strained relations with the Chamber of Mines, which raised concerns about investor confidence and capital flight. The article argues that while foreign investment is important to the mining sector, Namibia's minerals belong first to Namibians and the country must balance competing interests.

    27 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 26 May

  1. African producers stockpile diamonds amid synthetic competition

    Natural diamonds face pressure from cheaper laboratory-grown synthetics, prompting African producers, particularly Botswana, to withhold inventory from the market to signal scarcity and protect long-term value rather than compete on depressed prices.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 19 April

  1. Fabian Shaanika appointed to Kudu Chemicals board

    Green Metals Refining has appointed seasoned mining and banking executive Fabian Shaanika to the board of its Namibian subsidiary Kudu Chemicals, which is developing a sulphuric acid plant at Walvis Bay for battery-grade manganese chemical production.

    19 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

  1. Namra convenes stakeholder meeting on mineral licence transfers

    The Namibia Revenue Agency has called a meeting at its Windhoek head office to address legal compliance and governance challenges in the transfer of mineral and petroleum licences and company shares, bringing together regulators, policymakers, tax officials, industry representatives and taxpayers. Former Cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein has criticised the regulatory framework, saying mineral rights are not adequately treated as state assets and arguing that many mineral companies employ tax avoidance schemes that result in profits leaving Namibia.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Debmarine promotes natural diamonds amid synthetic competition

    Debmarine Namibia is pursuing brand-building and consumer education to protect the natural diamond industry as synthetic diamonds devalue the market and reduce consumer appetite. The strategy comes as De Beers' valuation has plummeted from US$4.1 billion to US$2.3 billion, potentially affecting Namibia's funding for schools, hospitals, roads and social programmes.

    11 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. President hosts De Beers, political parties, sports champions

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with multiple delegations at State House over the past week, including a De Beers delegation led by CEO Al Cook, the PDM party led by McHenry Venaani, NEFF and Nudo delegations, the Brave Gladiators after their 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship victory, and Namibia International Energy Conference founder Selma Shimutwikeni.

    11 March 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Friday 6 March

  1. Synthetic diamonds, US tariffs threaten Botswana's diamond-dependent economy

    Botswana, the world's second-largest diamond producer, faces mounting pressure from the rise of cheaper synthetic diamonds (now accounting for one-fifth of the global market) and US tariffs disrupting diamond polishing, threatening an economy where diamonds comprise 80% of exports and contribute a quarter of GDP. The country's economy shrank 3% in 2024 as output from state-owned Debswana fell 39% between 2023 and 2025, forcing mine closures and workforce reductions that ripple through dependent towns like Jwaneng.

    6 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 28 February

  1. President meets De Beers CEO on diamond sector cooperation

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah received a delegation from De Beers Group led by CEO Al Cook to discuss the future of Namibia's diamond industry, including challenges from lab-grown diamonds and opportunities to strengthen the longstanding partnership.

    28 February 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 27 February

  1. President, De Beers CEO discuss diamond sector challenges

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and De Beers Group CEO Al Cook met to address pressures facing Namibia's diamond industry, including competition from lab-grown diamonds, market volatility, and structural weaknesses. De Beers is launching a "Desert Diamonds" marketing campaign to differentiate natural diamonds from synthetics and educate consumers globally about Namibian diamonds' value and origin.

    27 February 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 25 February

  1. Synthetic diamonds threaten Namibia's government revenue, experts warn

    Anglo American's sharp devaluation of De Beers to US$2.3 billion reflects the diamond industry's struggles amid competition from lab-grown diamonds, which threatens Namibia's fiscal health since diamonds fund schools, hospitals and roads. Experts debate whether Namibia should invest in the sector as Anglo American seeks buyers, with some warning the industry faces long-term decline.

    25 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 February

  1. Gender ministry trains 1,485 women entrepreneurs through UN programme

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women with entrepreneurial skills through the EntreprenHER programme, funded by UN Women, which provides digital and financial literacy training to support women micro-entrepreneurs. The programme, now in its third phase across Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, has supported over 2,400 women-owned micro-enterprises, with the ministry now exploring partnerships to advance to phase four.

    24 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 February

  1. Gender ministry trains 1,485 women entrepreneurs through EntreprenHER

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women in entrepreneurial skills via the EntreprenHER programme, which provides digital and financial literacy training and market access support. The UN-funded initiative, now in phase 3, has supported over 2,400 micro-enterprises across Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, with the ministry exploring partnerships for further expansion.

    20 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 February

  1. Orange Basin oil industry plagued by legal gaps and power struggles

    Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector faces a 30-year legal vacuum in gas-related legislation and internal corruption scandals at Namcor, even as offshore exploration has confirmed 21 billion barrels of crude and significant gas deposits. A power struggle between resource nationalists and business factions over control of the industry has intensified following President Nandi-Ndaitwah's appointment and her move to centralise upstream petroleum functions in the Office of the President.

    12 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 February

  1. Namibia pushes for unified African diamond industry strategy

    Namibia's Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy said the country remains committed to working with other African diamond producers and reaffirmed partnerships with De Beers and the Natural Diamond Council to address industry challenges and advance a unified continental strategy for marketing natural diamonds globally.

    10 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 7 February

  1. Namibia to showcase mining opportunities at 2026 Indaba

    Namibia will participate in the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town in February to attract investors and development partners to its mining sector. The country will host two investment-focused sessions highlighting its stable mining environment, mineral resources including uranium and diamonds, and projects seeking support for exploration, processing and value addition.

    7 February 2026 · New Era →

Friday 16 January

  1. Namdia employee arrested in N$314.9 million diamond robbery

    A Namib Desert Diamonds employee has been arrested in connection with a diamond heist at the company's offices on 18 January 2025, bringing the total number of arrested employees to four. Diamonds valued at N$314.9 million were stolen in the robbery, which left two employees dead; N$40.6 million worth has so far been recovered.

    16 January 2026 · New Era →

De Beers — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute