Rio Tinto has decided to gift the Bunder diamond project in India to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh. The decision follows a comprehensive review which was concluded last year.
Rio, which spent almost $120 million on the asset discovered in 2004, had planned to invest an extra $500 million to develop it but in August 2016 decided to mothball it due to regulatory hurdles, local opposition and weak diamond prices.
At the time the company announced it would not proceed with the development of Bunder due to commercial considerations and would be seeking to close all project infrastructure. Under a Government of Madhya Pradesh order signed in January 2017, the government will accept ownership and take on responsibility for the Bunder assets.
The inventory of assets and associated infrastructure handed over to the state government comprises all land, plant, equipment and vehicles at the Bunder project site. The inventory will also include diamond samples recovered during exploration.
This approach will assist the government to package the assets if it were to proceed with an auction process for the Bunder mineral rights.
Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive Arnaud Soirat said, “Our exit from Bunder is the latest example of Rio Tinto streamlining its asset portfolio. It simplifies our business, allowing us to focus on our world-class assets.
“We believe in the value and quality of the Bunder project and support its future development, and the best way to achieve that is to hand over the assets to the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
“Rio Tinto has long and enduring ties with India and we continue to see the nation as an important market for our metals and minerals and as a key hub for Rio Tinto’s business services.”
Rio remains committed to its diamonds business through its world-class underground mines, the Argyle diamond mine in Australia and the Diavik diamond mine in Canada.
The company says it continues to enjoy a strong partnership with the Indian diamond industry, with more than 250,000 diamond cutters and polishers employed in processing Rio Tinto diamonds.
Rio Tinto