Angola’s state-owned diamond giants, ENDIAMA E.P. and SODIAM E.P., have officially announced their joint membership in the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), effective July 1, 2025. Their entry comes with a significant $8 million funding commitment aimed at supporting the NDC’s global marketing efforts during the critical second half of the year.

This move underscores Angola’s expanding influence in the international diamond trade. As the world’s third-largest producer of natural diamonds and a key region for future exploration, Angola is positioning itself as a responsible and proactive leader in promoting the value and integrity of natural diamonds.

“Promoting the values and socioeconomic benefits of our diamond industry is a national priority,” said Diamantino Azevedo, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas. “By joining the Natural Diamond Council, Endiama and Sodiam are reinforcing our long-term commitment to transparency, sustainability, and global consumer engagement.”

David Kellie, CEO of the NDC, welcomed the partnership, noting, “Endiama and Sodiam’s participation comes at a transformative moment for the industry. Their support will help amplify our message about the natural diamond’s rarity, authenticity, and lasting positive impact.”

Richa Singh, Managing Director of NDC India & Middle East, added, “Diamonds represent deep emotional and cultural significance. With Endiama and Sodiam on board, we are better positioned to educate consumers and share the inspiring stories behind each natural diamond.”

De Beers, a founding NDC member, responded to Angola’s $8 million contribution by pledging a matching amount for 2025, further strengthening the Council’s ability to run impactful global campaigns.

With their membership, Endiama and Sodiam join a prestigious lineup of NDC contributors, including De Beers, Rio Tinto, Petra Diamonds, Murowa, and the Okavango Diamond Company. Together, they aim to promote the enduring value, ethical sourcing, and community benefits of natural diamonds on the global stage.

Alrosa, one of the world’s largest diamond producers, has entered into a strategic partnership with Sber, Russia’s leading financial and technology services group, to implement artificial intelligence (AI) across its mining operations. The agreement was signed during the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum by Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev and Sberbank Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov.

This collaboration aims to integrate advanced AI tools such as computer vision, image recognition, and video analytics to enhance safety, improve quality control, and enable real-time monitoring across Alrosa’s production sites. The technologies are expected to minimize human error and optimize equipment diagnostics, logistics, and on-site road safety.

A major component of the initiative is the incorporation of large language models (LLMs) into Alrosa’s daily operations. These AI-powered assistants will accelerate document preparation, automate data analysis, and provide instant access to geological records through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, delivering precise insights from tens of thousands of technical reports in seconds.

In addition to deployment, the partnership will focus on co-developing algorithms, building training datasets, and sharing machine learning expertise. These joint efforts are geared toward increasing efficiency, lowering operational costs, and supporting Alrosa’s broader digital transformation goals.

“Digitalisation is a strategic direction for Alrosa. Our ambitious AI roadmap, in partnership with Sber, marks a new chapter in operational innovation and sustainability,” said Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev.

Sberbank’s Anatoly Popov emphasized the significance of the alliance: “Alrosa produces over a quarter of the world’s diamonds, making it a vital partner. AI technologies like computer vision and LLMs will unlock unprecedented gains in productivity and product quality. This partnership cements our commitment to co-develop cutting-edge solutions that position Alrosa at the forefront of global diamond mining.”

Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Diamantino Azevedo, urged African diamond-producing nations to coordinate strategies and launch unified global campaigns to restore natural diamond prices and market position.

Speaking at a ministerial roundtable in Luanda, Azevedo emphasized that consumers should understand that buying natural diamonds supports “real human transformation” across Africa, funding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure development.

Key Points:

• Africa produces over 65% of global rough diamonds, led by Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, DRC, and Sierra Leone
• Angola produced 14+ million carats in 2024 (96% of target) and inaugurated the massive Luele mine
• The country is expanding the Saurimo Diamond Development Pole with 19 new factories and establishing the Angola Diamond Exchange
• Angola is preparing to formally join the Natural Diamond Council

The one-day summit brought together mineral resource ministers from major African diamond producers to address industry challenges and promote the positive impact of natural diamonds on producing communities.

Azevedo stressed that true wealth lies not in carats extracted but in the value we retain, the future we build, and the dignity we preserve.