VOA常速英语2007-South Africa Wants Diamonds Polished Locally

By Terry FitzPatrick
Cape¹ Town
08 October 2007

South Africa's government is intervening in the international diamond market to ensure that uncut stones are polished by local jewelers. The government will soon begin buying 10 percent of the country's raw diamond output to help its domestic cutting industry grow. Terry FitzPatrick reports for VOA News.

South Africa is the world's fourth-biggest diamond mining country, generating $1.4 billion in uncut stones each year. But fewer than 3,000 people work in processing factories, where half the value of finished diamonds is created by cutting and polishing the stones.

It has been especially hard for black cutters to enter the market, even though racial apartheid has ended. That is because most raw diamonds are exported, and those that remain are spoken-for under long-standing contracts with South African mines.

The South African government will soon restrict diamond exports. During a ceremony Monday at Parliament, officials unveiled details of a new state-owned diamond trading house. By law, it will have access to 10 percent of the nation's raw stones.

Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica says the government will sell these diamonds to small and medium sized jewelers, to keep the profits from polishing at home.

"This is going to make beneficiation a reality in South Africa because there will be minerals that are available," said Sonjica. "It is quite exciting, the process of making diamonds accessible to people who did not necessarily participate in this area."

The world's biggest diamond company, South-Africa based DeBeers, will donate equipment, offices and personnel to get the government trading facility running by January 1. DeBeers initially² opposed diamond-export restrictions³, but Director Barend Petersen says his company is happy to promote racial diversification⁴.

"This is a great day in the history of the diamond industry in South Africa," said Petersen. "DeBeers are fully⁵ supportive to transformation⁶. It is another step on a journey. We believe that this is a good day for the country, for the economy, and generally for cooperation."

South Africa will buy up to $140 million in uncut stones each year, and sell them to local jewelers at market price. The government says this will ensure a stable supply of raw diamonds, and talks are underway about government loans so that small factories can buy the stones.

If the state trading house is successful, Minister Sonjica says it will set an example for South Africa's other big mineral exports like gold, platinum⁷ and uranium.

1 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

2 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 diversification   

n.变化，多样化；多种经营

参考例句：

• The seminar was to discuss diversification of agriculture. 该研讨会讨论的是农业多种经营。 来自辞典例句
• Firm diversification is increasingly achieved by the means of takeover and merger. 通过接管和兼并，厂商经营范围日益多样化。 来自辞典例句

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

7 platinum   

n.白金

参考例句：

• I'll give her a platinum ring.我打算送给她一枚白金戒指。
• Platinum exceeds gold in value.白金的价值高于黄金。