Botswana Diamonds PLC on Friday celebrated environmental authorisation for the Thorny River diamond project in South Africa.

The authorisation from the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy was for one of two mining permit applications.

Botswana Diamonds applied for two mining permits in late 2022 after an exploration programme that included bulk sampling and a mine planning exercise carried out by an independent consultant.

‘Following further community consultation, a mining permit should be granted within the next six weeks,’ Botswana Diamonds said.

Chair John Teeling said: ‘We are delighted to see that this authorisation has come through and we anticipate that the mining permit will soon be granted. The Thorny River project is well placed to restart and expand mining operations when prices recover.’

Botswana Diamonds shares were up 5.3% to 0.20 pence each on Friday morning in London.

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