The Angola Selling Corporation (ASCorp) recently said in a statement that it welcomes the announcement that Endiama, the State Diamond Mining Company of Angola, and De Beers have entered into negotiations with the intention to resolve their longstanding disputes.

ASCorp has the exclusive license to market all of Angola’s diamond production and to regulate and control the Angolan diamond from the mine to the first point of export.

Ian Atkins, Head of Public Affairs for ASCorp said: ” We wish the parties a successful outcome to their negotiations.”

He added: “ASCorp welcomes the involvement of all investors committed to working within the single channel system for the advancement of Angola’s diamond economy.”

ASCorp was established in December 1998 with a mandate to purchase all of Angola’s diamond production. Both officially mined production and artisanally produced alluvial diamonds are processed through a single channel marshalled by ASCorp.

ASCorp is 51% owned by SODIAM, which is itself owned by Endiama. Please note that the original eMonday story was based on an old report.

JCK