The Diamonds of Sierra Leone

Published May 28, 2012
A resident walks by a diamond dealer's shop in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A resident walks by a diamond dealer's shop in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A diamond prospector filters earth from a river on April 28, 2012, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A diamond prospector filters earth from a river on April 28, 2012, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
Diamond prospectors filter earth from a river on April 28, 2012, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
Diamond prospectors filter earth from a river on April 28, 2012, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
Diamond prospectors filter earth from a river on April 28, 2012, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
Diamond prospectors filter earth from a river on April 28, 2012, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A worker walks past one of the three crushing circuits at the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings plant, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A worker walks past one of the three crushing circuits at the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings plant, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A boy drinks from a water tap in a 'new town' built by the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings, which aims to provide access to clean drinking water, education and training, free healthcare and infrastructure, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A boy drinks from a water tap in a 'new town' built by the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings, which aims to provide access to clean drinking water, education and training, free healthcare and infrastructure, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
Excavators take part in work at the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings plant, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
Excavators take part in work at the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings plant, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A man looks at work at the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings plant, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.
A man looks at work at the diamond mining company Koidu Holdings plant, in Koidu, the capital of the diamond-rich Kono district, in eastern Sierra Leone.

Small-scale artisanal mining has sustained this area since diamonds were discovered in 1930, and it was here that the 968.9-carat Star of Sierra Leone was found in 1972 the largest alluvial diamond ever found. Koidu also suffered some of the worst ravages of Sierra Leone's war in the nineties as rebels forced citizens to mine at gunpoint. But surface diamonds are near-depleted and only capital-intensive mining can reach the gems.  On the other side of town, Koidu Holdings, a mining company owned by Israeli diamond magnate Beny Steinmetz, is testing a new plant built to process the diamonds from its two vertical kimberlite mines as part of a $150 million (115 million euro) expansion plan. – Photo and text by AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...