Lethiba Likotsi

Storm Mountain Diamonds - Kao

Storm Mountain Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (SMD) operates Kao Mine in the District of Botha Bothe. This is the fourth largest kimberlite pipe in Southern Africa - and the largest kimberlite pipe in Lesotho - from a coverage perspective at 19.8 hectares, with an indicated and inferred resource base of 12.7 million carats. Kao's pipe has been explored and confirmed to a depth of 500m. The mine has approximatey 18 years of operation left. A deposit with exceptional prospects, Kao yields rare coloured diamonds ranging from purple, pink, blue, yellow and top light brown to the classic whites. Globally, ‘fancy coloured', also known as rare diamonds, are regarded as an exceptional investment. The blues, pinks and the purples tend to be the rarest with the exception of red; the rarest of the rare. The company has managed to increase its processing capacity by 40% over the past five years and will continue to look for opportunities to expand. We employ over 700 people and we have contributed over M700 million to the Lesotho Government fiscus through taxes and levies. Our diamonds are sold on tender in Antwerp, through our sales and marketing partners; Bonas Couzyn Antwerpen NV.