BOTETI Exploration, the joint venture between African Diamonds plc (49 per cent) and De Beers Prospecting Botswana (51 per cent) was granted a prospecting licence for 22 sq km in the Orapa area of Botswana.

A review of old data suggests that at least some of the kimberlites are larger than previously estimated and an immediate bulk sampling programme is underway on the three most promising targets, African Diamonds said in a press release.

The licence is situated 10 km east of the Orapa Mine, the second largest diamond mine in the world, and is adjacent to the Damtshaa diamond mine. The Letlhakane diamond mine and the African Diamonds AK6 discovery are just to the south of the licence.

The De Beers-operated Boteti joint venture now has access to 39 of the 78 known kimberlites in the Orapa area.