The diamond sector may be a volatile industry, as its dramatic ups and downs during the pandemic have demonstrated.

Kyndykan was a young girl who was miraculously found alive 200 years ago by Yakut hunters near the Verkhoyansk Mountains in an ancestral settlement completely wiped out by smallpox.

The 2011 rough diamond sales deal in which the venture, Debswana, sells all of its output to De Beers was set to expire in 2020.

Preliminary scoping study shows the asset has the potential to yield 2.1 million carats over its 14-year mine life.

Angela Bigg, previously general manager, operations, will be the first female to lead the mine and its 1,100 employees.

The government is increasing efforts to diversify Botswana's economy, investing in science, tech and entrepreneurship to lessen a dependency on diamond mining.