Botswana denies wanting to sell De Beers stake.(FACETS)

The government of Botswana has denied that it has any intention of selling the 15 percent stake it currently holds in De Beers, which it doubled under an agreement it signed with De Beers in late May. Akolang Tombale, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Water Affairs, officially denied the speculative report on Minweb.com, which said the 15 percent share could be worth $1 billion or more.

The mining website said that selling its stake in De Beers could help the Botswana government with its plan to diversify out of diamonds, while still leaving it with its ...

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