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Can Botswana’s diamond collapse signal the end of Africa’s gem dominance?

Diamond. Photo by Plato Terentev @ Pexels
Diamond. Photo by Plato Terentev @ Pexels
  • Diamond collapse drives Botswana’s sharp mining contraction
  • Copper emerges as a strategic hedge in the energy transition

 

GABORONE, BOTSWANA – Botswana’s mining sector has recorded its steepest contraction in years, exposing the risks of commodity dependence and accelerating calls for diversification into industrial minerals like copper.

The Index of Mining Production fell to 40.9 in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 44.7% decline from 74.0 recorded during the same period in 2024, according to the latest data.

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