Lipari Diamond Mines Ltd. is a Canadian private company that operates the producing Braúna diamond mine in Brazil. The Company recently entered into a business combination agreement to acquire a 75% equity interest in the advanced-stage Tchitengo diamond project in Angola.
The Braúna mine is located in the Municipality of Nordestina, Bahia State, Brazil. The mine is the first diamond mine in South America developed on a kimberlite deposit. The Braúna mine commenced commercial production in July 2016 and operates on a 24×7 basis in accordance with international best practices in the areas of sustainability.
Tchitengo diamond project in Angola will provide near-term production growth for the Company. Lipari will own a 75% equity interest in the project, which is situated along the border between the Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces of northeastern Angola. The property encompasses 30 kimberlites, including 2 kimberlites that have reached an advanced stage of development. The 10.6-hectare Tchiuzo kimberlite was developed to a pre-feasibility phase of development by ALROSA during the period 2006 through 2013. The 10-hectare Tchegi-38 kimberlite was discovered by BHP Billiton in 2008 and reached the bulk sampling stage of development.
Lipari’s management team has extensive diamond development and operational expertise, which has helped grow the Company into South America’s largest diamond producer. Lipari is leveraging its experience to advance the development of the Tchiuzo and Tchegi-38 kimberlites in Angola, where there is potential for world-class diamond mines.
All of the natural diamond production from Lipari’s operations are produced and exported in accordance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (“KPCS”) which imposes strict requirements on producers to enable them to certify their shipments of rough diamonds as “conflict-free” and prevent illegally-produced diamonds from entering the legitimate trade.