World’s Third-largest Diamond Found in Botswana, Proceeds to be Used to Advance National Development

By Darby Jones July 7, 2021

A 1,098-carat diamond believed to be the world’s third-largest has been found in Botswana. A government official said that “proceeds from the diamond will be used to advance national development in the country.”

One of the world’s largest diamonds has been discovered in Botswana. It weighs in at 1,098 carats and is believed to be the world’s third-largest “gem-quality” diamond ever found. The diamond was discovered at the Jwaneng mine by Botswanan diamond firm, Debswana, about 75 miles from the country’s capital, Gaborone.

Debswana is a joint venture between Anglo American’s De Beers and the Botswanan government, which receives up to 80% of the income from diamond sales.

The next-biggest diamonds are the 3,106-carat Cullinan found in South Africa in 1905 and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona discovered in Botswana in 2015. Botswana is Africa’s largest producer of the prized gem. The previous record for a gem-quality diamond found at this particular mine was 446 carats in 1993, according to CBS News.

Botswana’s official government Twitter account wrote that “proceeds from the diamond will be used to advance national development in the country.”

The minerals minister in Botswana, Lefoko Moagi, said the discovery of the stone could not have come at a better time, following a challenging year when diamond sales were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Debswana will work with the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers to value and sell the diamond to ensure it returns maximum benefit for the people of Botswana,” the company said in a statement. “And (we) will communicate further plans to bring this unique treasure to market in due course.”