Botswana Defends Diamond Industry with Strict Lab-Grown Regulations

In a decisive move to protect Botswana's vital diamond industry, the government announced new regulations requiring lab-grown diamonds to be weighed in grams instead of carats, marking a clear distinction between natural and synthetic stones.

Protecting Natural Diamond Heritage

Minerals and Energy Minister Bogolo Kenewendo revealed that these changes will be formally introduced during the next parliamentary session, aligning with Botswana's ongoing efforts to strengthen its position in the global diamond market.

"We will save the weight for natural diamonds as carats and use grammes for synthetics," stated Minister Kenewendo, emphasizing the government's commitment to maintaining the distinction.

Strategic Economic Protection

This regulatory change represents another step in Botswana's broader strategy to assert economic sovereignty and protect its natural resource heritage. The measure follows similar regulations already implemented in Europe and other major markets.

Presidential Stance on Synthetic Diamonds

President Duma Boko has maintained a firm position against equating lab-grown diamonds with natural stones, stating at JCK Vegas: "Lab-grown diamonds are not in the same category. They are not in the same universe. How are we even competing with something made in a factory?"

International Context

While the European Union has already mandated similar restrictions, with Belgium leading the charge, the United States continues to use carats for both natural and synthetic diamonds. This regulatory divergence highlights the importance of protecting national mining interests through decisive policy actions.