Monrovia, July 8: The Liberia government is talking with De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd about an exclusive contract for diamond mining following the breakdown of its relations with Amalia Gold Mining and Exploration of South Africa, Mines Minister Jenkins Dunbar said."We are considering De Beers for the contract very seriously," Dunbar told Reuters in an interview. Dunbar confirmed that the contract with Amalia covering exclusive rights to develop Liberia's mineral rights had been cancelled.
"The status of Amalia is that we no longer have a relationship with them. They failed to live up to all aspects of the contract," he said.
Amalia signed its agreement with Liberia in 1997 after the end of the civil war there. Its share price collapsed when it became clear there were problems with the deal and the stock was suspended in Johannesburg in March.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
