Lipari Diamond Mines Ltd. is a Canadian private company that indirectly owns a 75% equity interest in the Tchitengo diamond property in Angola and operates the producing Braúna diamond mine in Brazil.
Tchitengo diamond property in Angola will provide near-term production growth for the Company. Lipari will own a 75% equity interest in the property, 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 Sociedade Mineira de Catoca 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 also owns and operates the Braúna mine which 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. Currently Lipari is transitioning the mine from an open pit mine to an underground mining operation, extending the life of the mining operation. Lipari is also advancing exploration of the other 22 kimberlite occurrences that exist on the Braúna property.
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 System (“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.