Trans Hex sees glittering prospects in Angolan dia
Trans Hex sees glittering prospects in Angolan diamond mines
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THE new CE of local diamond producer Trans Hex, Llewellyn Delport, says that the company`s operations in Angola hold the key to its future.
Trans Hex has one mine and three exploration projects in the country. These are all operated in partnership with the government.
Delport said yesterday that Trans Hex`s decision to enter Angola two years ago only a few months after the end of the civil war gave the company the advantage of being a `first mover`.
`We managed to get our hands on some good diamonds in the ground,` he said.
Angola has some of the world`s highest-grade diamond deposits, and this serves to underpin Trans Hex`s strategy, said Delport.
There could be further opportunities in Angola, but Delport said the company would first need to earn the respect of the Angolan authorities in Luanda. `If they would allow us more properties, we would explore them,` he said.
`We are partnering the government, and if we perform we would hope and expect to be offered further opportunities our vision is to be a preferred partner.`
He said that in time there might be further international expansion potential, and said there was diamond exploration activity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada and Russia.
He said, though, ` we must not go to a third country without some success in a second one (Angola)`.
Delport said that after the civil war, one of the challenges was the infrastructure, which had been destroyed.
`It`s a serious mission to get equipment in and out,` he said.
He also said there were challenges in adapting to a business environment where the Angolan partners needed to be consulted.
`In Angola, we are joint venture partners, and the challenge is to get the partnership to work for people who are used to having control,` Delport said.
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