{
  "id": 8598311,
  "title": "Botswana Diamond Production Rises After Two Lost Years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/botswana-diamond-production-rises-after-two-lost-years",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-19T23:27:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/botswana-debswana-diamond-production-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Botswana experienced a two-year recession as the global demand for diamonds plummeted. The economy contracted by 2.8% in 2024 and another 0.7% in 2025, as reported by the national statistics office. The severe downturn marked the fourth quarter of 2025, where the mining and quarrying sector declined by 47.0%, and diamond production dropped by 54.6%. However, the first quarter of 2026 saw a resurgence, with mining output increasing by 3.4% and diamond production rising to 4,886 thousand carats, a 4.7% increase from the previous year. Debswana, the diamond joint venture between the Botswana government and De Beers, is responsible for producing around 90% of the country's diamonds. The joint venture aims to boost production to approximately 18 million carats in 2026, up from 15 million carats in 2025. Copper concentrates also saw a 15.1% year-over-year increase in the first quarter of 2026. Unemployment remains high, with the national unemployment rate at 27.6% and youth unemployment at 38.2%. The government is considering a competitive process among potential bidders to acquire the 85% stake in De Beers, which it currently holds. This move could shift marketing power towards the state and impact Botswana's long-term economic growth in the future.",
  "summary": "Debswana will lift diamond production from 15 million to 18 million carats this year, betting on a market recovery after two years of shrinking growth in diamond-dependent Botswana. The post Botswana Diamond Production Rises After Two Lost Years appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}