Mining and exploration company Firestone Diamonds PLC (LON:FDI) has appointed Paul Sobie to its board as non-executive director with immediate effect.
Sobie is an economic geologist specialising in the exploration and evaluation of diamond deposits, with over 20 years professional experience including extensive project development for clients in both the junior and senior mining sectors, including De Beers, Falconbridge, Firestone Diamonds, Stellar Diamonds (LON:STEL), Siberian Diamonds and Kopane Diamond Developments.
His work in diamonds has had a particular focus on Southern Africa, and he has a very good understanding of Firestone's operations in Botswana and Lesotho, having consulted to the company for a number of years, Firestone said.
Sobie is currently president and managing partner of MPH Consulting Ltd of Toronto, Canada, an international mineral exploration, geological and geophysical consultancy. Firestone is an international diamond mining and exploration company with operations focused on Lesotho and Botswana.
Firestone is also the largest holder of mineral rights in Botswana's diamondiferous kimberlite fields, controlling around 10,000 square kilometres around the major Orapa and Jwaneng mines and the entire Tsabong kimberlite field.
In addition to Liqhobong and BK11, Firestone has 108 kimberlites in its portfolio, of which 30 have been proven to be diamondiferous.
Lesotho is emerging as one of Africa's significant new diamond producers, and hosts Gem Diamonds' (LON:GEMD) Letseng Mine, Firestone's Liqhobong Mine as well as the Kao and Mothae development projects.
Botswana is the world's largest and lowest cost producer of diamonds, with annual production worth over US$2.5 billion, and is considered to be one of the most prospective countries in the world to explore for diamonds.